George H.W. Bush (1924 – 2018)

Another former president of the United States of America died this week: the elder Bush.  Contemplating his life takes us nostalgically back to an era when progress seemed to be happening in the world…

George Herbert Walker Bush was well prepared for his role as president, having built his character and life experience through service in the second World War, as a businessman in the oil industry, as a Congressman and as a Vice President.  Then as fate would have it, his period of office as president coincided with important world changes.  His Ascendant was exactly conjunct the North Node, indicating that he was a karmic catalyst.

Birth Chart

George had the Sun in Gemini, the Moon in Libra and   his Ascendant in Leo.  His Sun was exactly square Uranus, so he was strong willed and not afraid to be controversial.  He had Venus conjunct Pluto in Cancer, so he was a man of deep feelings and patriotism.  Mars was exactly trine Saturn in his chart, indicating measured action, and he was described as a “pragmatic caretaker” which is descriptive of that trine.  He found strength through his religious faith, and that is reflected by the positive interaction of Jupiter trine Neptune in his chart.

The Bush Years

His inauguration as president took place on 20th January 1989, and he was defeated by Bill Clinton in the election of 1992.  His term in the most powerful office in the world was uniquely important in history, as has been mentioned.

Inauguration

At the time of his inauguration, and dominating the first year of his presidency, there was a world changing triple alchemical conjunction of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the cauldron of Capricorn.  At this point in time, the triple conjunction was trine the North Node in Pisces, activating world karma.  In his inaugural address, he stated:

“… a new breeze is blowing, and a world refreshed by freedom seems reborn; for in man’s heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over. … A new breeze is blowing, and a nation refreshed by freedom stands ready to push on. There is new ground to be broken, and new action to be taken”.

The fall of the Berlin Wall

“Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive. But to be young was very heaven!” So wrote Wordsworth about the French Revolution, but the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9th November 1989 had the same momentous atmosphere of rebirth.  The dissolving of long term barriers and the prospect of unification gave rise to a sense of optimism and the world heading in the right direction.

How did we come from there, to here, now?  To having a president talk of walls between countries.  It makes you wonder what has happened in the years in between to reverse this spirit.

At the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Saturn and Neptune had come together exactly at 10 degrees Capricorn.  It is interesting to note that Saturn, which has a 29 year cycle, reaches that point of 10 degrees Capricorn this very month, around the Christmas period.  Pause for thought: again, how did we get from there to here, with fascism on the rise in Germany and across Europe, seemingly the opposite of progress.  How will Saturn manifest in that position this time round, very differently it would seem.  Saturn and Capricorn represent walls, and Neptune represents dissolution.  This time Neptune is not quite engaging with Saturn, but at the end of January they are in harmonious sextile relationship with each other: yet another indication (as mentioned in earlier blogs) that January could be a very important month in the history of the world.

Meeting of Bush and Gorbachev

The progress in the year of 1989 continued right through to its end, when on 2nd and 3rd December President Bush met with Mikhail Gorbachev, in talks which were to become the ending of the Cold War.

Gorbachev said about this meeting: “I assured the President of the United States that the Soviet Union would never start a hot war against the United States of America. And we would like our relations to develop in such a way that they would open greater possibilities for cooperation…. This is just the beginning. We are just at the very beginning of our road, long road to a long-lasting, peaceful period.”

As well as the triple conjunction, which was just still operational at that point, Pluto was also trine Chiron, an indication of deep healing and change.  Bush’s transits were not easy, including an opposition between Saturn and his natal Pluto.  But the multitude of transits for Gorbachev certainly showed that it was a huge step for him.  These included:  Neptune sextile his Sun (a spiritual step), Uranus trine his Neptune (constructive complexity), and Mars trine his Pluto (boldness and courage).

Again, how did we get from there, to a situation now where we seem to have the beginnings of a new Cold War?  Various actions by Vladimir Putin have fostered mistrust, and specifically the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury meant that the U.K. and her allies could not afford to turn a blind eye to interference from Russia abroad.

Mikhail Gorbachev presided over liberal and economic reforms at home (Glasnost and Perestroika) and friendlier relations abroad.  This led however to his political demise and the break up of the Soviet Union.  On 25 December 1991, Boris Yeltsin took over from Gorbachev.  Bush and Yeltsin continued to build a relationship, and created a strategic partnership.

The First Gulf War

On 2nd August 1990 Saddam Hussein invaded the rich oil fields of Kuwait.  By this time the Uranus-Neptune conjunction of change was still operational, but Saturn had moved on, towards the end of Capricorn.  The most constructive era had passed, and a more sinister relationship was to begin, the long term struggle between the Bushes (the 41st and 43rd Presidents) and Saddam Hussein.  A dangerous opposition of Mars and Pluto was at work at that moment.  The Nodal Axis was square to Saddam’s Sun at the time and Jupiter was on his Pluto, daring him on to do his worst.

There followed some attempts at negotiations, but Bush and his allies prepared for war.  Margaret Thatcher was most encouraging in this, but George Bush Senior was not without the warrior archetype, having Mars closely opposite the Ascendant in his chart, and Mars exactly conjunct South Node  (past life warriorship).

On 16th January 1991 the U.S. led a counter-invasion to push Iraq back from Kuwait.  This coincided with a Solar Eclipse in Capricorn.  The strategy was conducted by air for just over a month, until 24th February when they were joined by a ground force.  The war then concluded after 100 hours.  It was probably the most challenging thing Bush Senior had to do in his lifetime, and Pluto was transiting his I.C. in Scorpio in his 3rd House.

This was 1991, and it was not until George Bush Junior initiated war with Iraq in 2003, that the matter was concluded, and Saddam Hussein was removed.  I wrote in 2009:

“The well-known story of the First Gulf War started with Saddam’s annexation of Kuwait in August 1990, when Jupiter was exactly conjunct his natal Pluto and opposite his natal Jupiter, obviously shored up by the full hilt of Jupiterian energy to his natal opposition.  The world watched with bated breath through Operation Desert Storm in January 1991, when Mars was squaring George Bush Senior’s Nodal Axis (again, destined for war).  The U.S. (as part of a U.N. endorsed force) was in saviour role to Kuwait: the Jupiter in its chart sextile exactly the natal Kuwait Pluto.  Eventually, the situation simmered down, and was left simmering for years in the subconscious mind of his son George W. Bush Junior.  When he came to power, this karma was re-activated, setting the stage for the Second Gulf War of 2003.”

Bush Senior always seemed a proper, grown up president, and his son seemed in contrast to be immature.  But George Bush Junior now seems acceptable, next to the super-immature persona of the current president Donald Trump.

Economics

George Bush Senior struggled to find success in the economic field.  Continuing the policies of his predecessor Ronald Reagan led to a recession, and he received widespread criticism for that.

Death

George Bush was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but continued to be active in various ways, despite being wheelchair bound.  He did not recover, however, from the death of his wife Barbara.  They had been married for 73 years, and she died in April 2018.  Her Sun was exactly trine his Moon.  They were both Geminis, so must have been twins for each other.  Her Mars was sextile his Midheaven, an energetic support for his career, and her Jupiter was sextile his Uranus, a recipe for success.  He released the following statement when she died:

“We have faith she is in heaven, and we know life will go on – as she would have it. So cross the Bushes off your worry list.”

This week, Neptune was square to his Jupiter, and Pluto was trine his Midheaven.  His strength of character and profound contribution has been acknowledged in tributes from around the world.  When he left office, the letter he wrote to his successor Bill Clinton, which has been widely circulated this week, showed both graciousness and wisdom.

from Barack Obama:

“George HW Bush’s life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling.  And he did tremendous good along the journey” said former president Barack Obama, who had visited Bush in Houston earlier last week, for a final meeting in what had become a warm friendship.”

from Mikhail Gorbachev:

“We had a chance to work together during the years of tremendous changes.  It was a dramatic time that demanded great responsibility from everyone.  The result was an end to the cold war and the nuclear arms race”

Aspects

This afternoon, Venus enters Scorpio, where she stays until 7th January.  This is a time when deep feelings can be experienced and expressed.  There is a greater sense of intimacy in  your relationships and more profound understanding.

We also have Chiron trine the North Node, bringing the possibility of karmic healing.  We may bring up past life experiences of training as healers, in the various ancient modalities.  If focussed on the present, we may become aware of and notice the laws of cause and effect and consequences, and what heals and works in our lives.

Tomorrow (Monday, 3rd) the Sun squares Mars very early in the morning in the U.K. (so you may experience the aggro before you retire to bed if you are a night owl).  Aggro, irritation and conflict are all possible under this aspect, so an early night may be a good way of keeping out of mischief.  Your dreams (or nightmares) may be extra vivid, energetic or graphic, though.  But it may be easier dealing only with your own inner turmoil.

Mercury trines Chiron on Tuesday (4th), so more chance to avail yourself of the healing in the Universe.  This will be on more of a mental level (whereas Sunday’s opportunity is more holistic), so practising positive thinking and writing or speaking affirmations is an ideal approach that day.  Also, combining the approaches of conventional and alternative medicine is favoured.  Mercury trine Chiron also assists in problem-solving.

Mercury also trines the North Node that day, strengthening our mental equipment and also bringing insights around karma and past lives.  Sisterhood and brotherhood and camaraderie can also be experienced under this aspect, as well as enhanced teaching and learning.

On Wednesday (5th) we may experience a loss of clarity, with the Sun square Neptune, clouding issues and throwing up mysteries, and possibly making us aware of our illusions.  Dreams will need to be firmed up and become more realistic.  The aspect occurs at 22.22 Hrs in the U.K., so all the twos might be a clue to the mysteries.

If you felt indecisive on Wednesday, some things may become clearer on Thursday (6th) when Mercury is stationary, prior to turning direct.  You may feel some relief about certain delays resolving themselves.  For example, there may be a respite in the flow of correspondence before Christmas cards gum up the works.  There might be the right kind of leaves on the line, too.

We have a New Moon in Sagittarius on Friday (7th) at 15 degrees of Sagittarius.  New Moons tend to be upbeat, and Sagittarian New Moons more upbeat than most, focussing on expansion, the planning of holidays, deep study and learning, global issues, and matters of faith.  Re-play your affirmations, with more confidence.  You can have powerful inner conversations under this New Moon.

In the afternoon, Mars conjoins Neptune, which may empower the spirit, but for some it may serve to confuse, especially if they are dashing about trying to bag items on their Christmas shopping list.  More meditative activities such as Tai Chi, Yoga and Qijong will achieve a greater sense of balance and serenity.  It is difficult to have one foot in the material world and one foot in the spiritual world, but some can do it.

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – deep feelings, and karmic healing
  • Tomorrow – abrasive
  • Tuesday – healing, helpful karma, and past life insights
  • Wednesday – fogginess
  • Thursday – improving communications
  • Friday – optimistic new beginnings, balancing matter and spirit

 

Date: Dec 2nd, 2018 · Comments RSS · Tags: Historical · Obituary