taking on the big boys…
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or AOC s an American democratic politician who is currently touring with veteran politician Bernie Sanders spearheading the political resistance to the disaster that is 49. She is left-wing (for American politics) and worked her way up in a grassroots campaign to win a seat in Congress at the age of 29, the youngest ever elected member, just after her Saturn return. She was not funded, like her democratic contender, by big money but ran her campaign on tiny donations from people in her community. She still does not take corporate money and describes herself as a Democratic Socialist.1
What about her astrology? We see her fiery Sagittarius ascendant, which makes for a great orator and an energetic campaigner for what she believes in. She has an applying Full Moon in her chart across the fourth and tenth houses, her roots (fourth) and career (tenth house). Venus, the ruler of her tenth house is also in fiery Sagittarius. and is trine her Moon and sextile that eloquent but combative Mercury conjunct her MC.
In her first house she has Uranus, Saturn and Neptune conjunct in Capricorn, which suggests her revolutionary (Uranus) strategic and intelligent ideas (Saturn) and her idealism (Neptune). These three planets are opposing a dignified Jupiter in Cancer in the 7th, suggesting there will always be people around to help her on her journey, although others (perhaps relationships) will be a source of pain also (Chiron).
These four collections of planets form a major aspect, a Cardinal Grand Cross, which suggests a karmic, larger than life path for her. Which it has turned out to be. It is possible she may end up as the next Democratic leader, certainly she has galvanised huge crowds to her speeches calling for a radical change in the system which does not work for ordinary people.
She was elected or sworn in on 3rd of January 2019. On that day, the Moon was at 16′ Sagittarius on her Ascendant, shining a light on her and her path in life.
There are some extraordinary transits here. The MC of the signing is at 10 degrees Capricorn, with Saturn exactly conjunct at 11’41, picking up her natal Saturn Neptune at 8’08 and 9’44 Capricorn respectively and opposing her Jupiter at 10’29 Cancer. This is a classic Saturn return event; taking on power, getting serious and, because her Saturn is in the 1st house, becoming visible and recognised.
Mars at 1’Aries 45 is conjunct her natal Moon at 3′ 14 Aries, energising another arm of her Grand Cross. Especially significant is the transiting Moon conjunct her Ascendant, bringing her into the public eye and Jupiter following on close behind suggests great things, Jupiter powerful in its own sign of Sagittarius represents the law (or legislators).
Jupiter passing over the Ascendant always shows a new ‘face to the world’ and an expansion of and in the native’s life. Such a strong Jupiter shows luck, good fortune and success. Finally, the Moon will have passed over her Venus at 5’35 Sagittarius. Venus, is the Almuten in her natal chart, sometimes called the chart ruler or the most powerful planet. The Moon passing over this planet shows the importance of this moment for her.
Her Secondary progressions repeat the message, when looking at charts usually transits, progressions and lunations mirror similar themes. Her progressed Ascendant is at 10’41 Capricorn, again picking up the first house Uranus, Saturn Neptune conjunction in her first house. The Progressed MC is at 5’41 Scorpio and this is conjunct her Progressed Mars at 5’8 almost exactly. Progressed Mars to Progressed Ascendant shows a supercharging in career matters, especially as in this case, Mars is in her own sign of Scorpio. Her Progressed Moon has just changed signs at 0’2 Taurus. When the Progressed Moon changes sign, it always indicates a new chapter in the native’s life, as indeed this was.
Looking back to prior lunations we find the New Moon on December 7th (a month before) was at 15’7 Sagittarius, right on her ascendant. This could not be a bigger sign that big changes were coming to her public face.
The Moon, then triggers by transit itself and by other planets to the natal Moon. As the fastest moving planet in the sky, the Moon offers timing measures and highlights other, deeper transits and Progressions occurring.
I will be considering all things Lunar at the Greek Island Summer school in June. There are a couple of places left. see here for details
Founder of The Greek Island Summer School Joanna Watters has a weekly astrology blog you can subscribe here
The next meeting of the Humoral study group will be on 31st of May. You can join here no experience needed, we are a group of Herbalists, student Herbalists and Astrologers or mixed ability.
- Recent social media posts showing a pro-Palestinian protester at one of AOCs local meetings calling her out as a ‘War Criminal’ Three points: One, AOC said, ‘let me answer your question’ the woman ignored her and continued screaming, the crowd turned on the woman and she was escorted out of the meeting. The woman said by asking people to support Biden AOC was supporting genocide, I wonder who she did want AOC to support? The only other candidate was 49. Secondly, AOC was a minor member of government and doubtless had little influence on Biden or Harris’ policies, it is naive to suggest otherwise. Thirdly, AOC takes no money from AIPAC (the Israeli organisation) and has called it out as a terrorist organisation undermining American democracy. Finally, be clear that her recent speeches with Bernie Saunders which have attracted tens of thousands of people may upset the status quo and hence a subversive campaign may be underway to discredit AOC and reduce her as a threat. Not that this woman was part of that, but be cynical when AOC gets attacked. The US has a ‘woman problem’ and a ‘Latina’ problem and she is both of these and is not funded and therefore she is not controlled and beholden to big business or billionaires. ↩︎
Elisabeth Brooke 