One of the many things on which astrologers do not agree is what chart to use for the United States. I use the Sibly chart for 5:10 pm on July 4, 1776 which is the most common chart and the one that works for me.

Many of you are aware that the United States has been going through a Pluto return over the past couple of years but really we have been through a heavily Plutonic period since Pluto in Sagittarius transited over the ascendant of the Sibly chart back in 2000. Pluto events feel heavy and transformational, and often expose darkness which may be lurking under rocks and in other dark places. (I wrote about this long dark of the national soul in last year’s Astrological State of the Union post which you can find here.)

Pluto will still be lingering within a few degrees of the U.S. Pluto, but I think we’re all ready to close the chapter on the Pluto Return so let’s dive into the current situation with the United States astrological chart.

Pluto trine the midheaven. Last year I wrote that in 2023 there would be a hint of a harmonious trine from Pluto to the U.S. midheaven. In a mundane chart the midheaven represents the goal of the American government to achieve equality and harmony. Partnership is important in the U.S. chart: Venus rules the midheaven and is found in the seventh house of partnership. Of course we also find enemies in the seventh house, and sometimes it seems as though the U.S. has to always be focused on one enemy or another, even if the enemy is within.

In any case, this Pluto trine to the midheaven culminates in 2024 but will linger into 2025 as Pluto returns to the 1st degree of Libra (though not exact it will be within a half a degree). Harmonious trines involving Pluto can bring positive transformation and facilitate growth. The midheaven in a national chart signifies the president and the government, and this harmonious trine in an election year could indicate a change for the better (although writing this in March 2024 it’s difficult for me to see how that will happen).

Chiron return.  A return of Chiron (wounding and healing) to its position in a natal chart occurs every 50-52 years so it’s not as unusual as a Pluto return; the last Chiron return in the U.S. occurred in 1974-1975 which coincides with Nixon’s resignation and a general lack of trust in government. Chiron came within minutes of an exact return in the summer of 2023 when former president Trump was indicted for his handling of classified documents. Uranus, planet of radical change, was also transiting opposite the midheaven so it’s difficult to assess which planetary cycle was most at work during the growing distrust of American politics.

Uranus square the Moon. Uranus, planet of revolution and liberation, will a challenge  to the U.S. Moon in August and September 0f 2024. Disruption, unease, lack of cohesive policy, political instability, emotional reactivity – all are hallmarks of this planetary cycle which will come to a peak at the Full Moon of August 19th which will conjoin the US Moon exactly. This will amplify the disruptive quality of the Uranus square to the U.S. Moon which by the way will continue into the spring of 2025.

The Great American Eclipse on April 8th – a total eclipse at the Aries New Moon – will activate the Chiron return and something significant may be revealed that changes the course of this year’s politics. A candidate dropping out perhaps? The eclipse falls in the 4th house, already tenanted by Chiron, representing the people (as opposed to the government in the 10th house).

I don’t like to make predictions because as soon as we think we know what will happen we will be proven wrong. Could anyone have predicted the crazy things that have happened over the past 20 Plutonic years in the U.S.?

Election Day astrology. Election Day falls on November 5 2024, with the exact Chiron return in force. Perhaps a malaise will fall over the country and dampen voter turnout. Other astrological factors:

  • Aggression and competitive instincts will be amplified (transiting Jupiter is in a tight conjunction that day to the U.S. Mars).
  • The astrological energies that week will be somewhat chaotic and aggressive anyway (transiting Mars, newly in Leo,  will have just opposed U.S. Pluto and transiting Pluto).
  • Pressure to define who we are as a nation, and who we want as allies will feel important (Saturn will be stationing direct in an exact square to the U.S. ascendant/descendant axis).
  • Instability and lack of emotional control as hysteria over the opposite side threatens to incite acts of rebellion (Uranus square Moon.)

Then we have the candidates, which deserve a full post of their own (coming later). One thing astrologers should remember is that challenging planetary cycles (such as Saturn) do not signify failure and harmonious cycles (such as Jupiter) do not necessarily signify success.

The progressed chart. There is one remarkable element to the progressions, which is a Progressed New Moon in Pisces in early April, right around the time of the eclipse. We have seen how the U.S. Sun progressing through the signs (every 30 years or so) has coincided with changes in the focus of the country. The U.S. Progressed Sun entered Pisces in 2004, and although Pisces is a wonderful sign of transcendent magic and imagination, it is not very grounded or focused.

As I wrote in the earlier article linked above,

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, the US nation was united and strong in their resolve to battle the forces of darkness, but by the time the 2004 elections came about Americans were beginning to have doubts and that national resolve began to splinter. …

A true experience of the divine is what Pisces offers, and the movement out of dogmatic theology into a more authentic and transcendent experience will continue to be more and more important for Americans. Psychic experiences will become ever more accepted, as we are seeing even now in our major media. The television show “Medium” premiered in January of 2005, just after the US progressed Sun moved into Pisces, and was the first of many such shows that came afterwards. The darker side of Pisces could lead some into a well of confusion and deception, however, as the yearning for the divine can combine with the urge for self-sacrifice and atonement that we also find under Pisces and encourages some to leave their discrimination behind.

It’s worth noting that Neptune entering Pisces in 2010 accelerated the tendency towards illusion that led us into the period of Q-Anon in 2017-2018 and the hysterics that we are now seeing in public discourse on both/all sides of the political spectrum.

Conclusions. The current astrological state of the Union is fragile, but it does appear that the country has survived the Pluto return. I’m encouraged that the Pluto trine to the U.S. Midheaven will help rebuild the broken bridges and fractured alliances that has marked the political discourse over the past few years.

People often ask “When does astrology say peace will come?” and that is always an impossible question to answer. When will people decide they want peace, and are willing to come together in collaboration to make that happen? I’m guessing it will not be this year.

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