Alex's Asteroid Astrology

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is perhaps one of the most disliked, and most effective, politicians in the country. First elected in 1984 in a squeaker election which he won by less than one percent, McConnell has won reelection five times, and faces another race in 2020. He was tapped to replace outgoing Senate Minority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in 2006, and became Majority Leader when Republicans took over the Senate in 2015.

The self-styled “Grim Reaper” of the Senate, Mitch McConnell is where legislation goes to die. Through a combination of stonewalling, pigheadedness, and obscure parliamentary tactics, McConnell has done his level best to frustrate Democratic administrations and agendas for decades. He famously opined, on the night of Barack Obama’s first inauguration, that his Party’s primary goal should be to ensure that Obama was a one-term president. When SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, during the last year of Obama’s presidency, McConnell contrived to keep his seat vacant for over a year, an extraordinary contravention of precedent. McConnell refused to bring numerous other judicial nominees to the floor as well, leaving Donald Trump to fill these positions with ultra-conservative jurists more to McConnell’s liking than Obama’s choices. He has similarly road-blocked most of the legislation coming out of the House, including new gun control measures, and funding for increased election security.

Despite overwhelming majorities in his reelections (for example, retaining his seat in 2002 by a blow-out 30 points), McConnell has become the least popular member of the US Senate, even among his own constituents. Since 2017, his approval ratings have been consistently underwater by as much as 25%, but he remains popular with Kentucky’s nominating electorate, and as a Republican, has been a shoo-in in the Bluegrass State.

Mitch McConnell, pictured here with several GOP cohorts, is a “lifer” in the US Senate, having represented Kentucky there for 35 years, as a natal Grand Cross including Jupiter, Senator and Washingtonia attests

That may be about to change, but it will be an uphill battle for Democratic challenger Amy McGrath in 2020, a 20-year veteran of the Marine Corps, where she served as a combat pilot.

Born 20 February 1942 (no time available), Mitchell “Mitch” McConnell’s rise to national prominence is well evidenced in his birth chart.   Dominating and engendering that saga is an exact Grand Cross anchored by Jupiter at 11 Gemini, opposed asteroid Senator at 11 Sagittarius, squared asteroids Washingtonia at 11 Virgo and Arachne at 11 Pisces, with the Sun broadly tied to this pattern, applying to it from 1 Pisces, at its outermost orb. With the Senate Jupiter-ruled, incorporating his job title and the city where he serves into this pattern, McConnell has been exceptionally lucky in his career path, with success crowning most of his political endeavors, something further facilitated by asteroid Nike in this mix, from 13 Sagittarius, named for the Greek goddess of victory.

Arachne represents the intricacies of his legislative and judicial agenda, the ability to weave a web of entanglements and enmeshment that frustrates others’ abilities to escape it. Also involved are asteroids Sphinx at 12 Sag and Rip at 14 Virgo, with Sphinx signaling McConnell’s stoic, impassive persona, and Rip (like the common tombstone acronym “RIP”) an appropriate allusion to his chosen moniker of the Grim Reaper of the Senate.

McConnell as he was in 1984, when he first took his Senate seat; a Yod from his Sun to Neptune/Truth and Pluto/Nemesis shows just how far he’ll go to attain his agenda, making him one of the most effective Majority Leaders in US history

McConnell comes by the nickname honestly, with his Sun also in exact semisquare to a pairing of asteroids Atropos, named for the Greek Fate who severs the thread of life at death, and Requiem, named for the funeral mass for the dead, both at 16 Aries, from where they also conjoin asteroid Mitchella at 20 Aries, one of McConnell’s PNAs (Personal-Named Asteroids) and square the other, asteroid McConnell at 20 Capricorn.

The Sun is also involved in an out-of-Sign square to asteroid Lachesis at 29 Taurus, named for the Fate who determines the span of life, while asteroid Osiris, named for the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, falls at 26 Aries, conjunct Mitchella and squared McConnell, but also in exact aspect to the Mutable Grand Cross, either semisquare or sesquiquadrate to each of its members. That’s a lot of death-related energies entwined with personality and career, and McConnell’s phlegmatic, unflappable demeanor, often described as tortoise-like, well reflects the quality of inevitability and inescapability which death exudes.

McConnell revels in his self-styled role as the Senate’s Grim Reaper, the place where legislation goes to die; death-related asteroids Atropos, Requiem, Lachesis and Osiris all impact the natal Sun or his PNAs

In addition to its peripheral connection to the Grand Cross, the Sun is focal in a pair of major configurations. It appears at the Apex of a Yod, or Finger of Destiny, with inconjunct aspects to both Neptune at 29 Virgo, with asteroid Truth at 2 Libra, and an exact pairing of Pluto with asteroid Nemesis, both at 4 Leo. The Sun with Neptune and Pluto suggests an exceptional desire for power (Pluto) and the willingness to deceive to achieve it (Neptune), to manipulate, coerce or break laws (also Pluto) in the ardent furtherance of an ideological goal or agenda (Neptune again). Neptune with Truth indicates that, for McConnell, the truth is a fluid thing, variable, subject to the dictates of zealotry or fanaticism, something to be poured into whatever mold is convenient to attain his purpose. Pluto with Nemesis grants an impressive “steamroller” quality to McConnell, who is easily cast as the arch villain or rival, obliterating opposition and soundly trouncing protests, but also suggests that power grabs and the questionable or criminal behaviors that accompany them could prove to be McConnell’s downfall. But in the meantime, this makes the Majority Leader a definite force to be reckoned with, unyielding and perseverant, focused on enacting what he considers divine justice or retribution.

The second pattern is a Grand Trine from the Sun to asteroids America and Troemper, at 4 Cancer and 1 Scorpio respectively. Both points are at station, forming embedded components of McConnell’s psyche, and this may help to explain his bizarre adherence to Donald Trump (Troemper), who he sees as his tool to remake the country’s (America) judicial structure in his own image. As long as Trump validates the judges McConnell puts forward, he’ll stand by him, come hell or high water. This pattern becomes a Kite with the inclusion of an opposition from the Sun to asteroid Niobe at 2 Virgo. This suggests that much of McConnell’s motivation stems from pride.

McConnell’s bizarre adherence to Donald Trump may be explained in part by the presence of asteroids Troemper and America, both at station and in a Grand Trine with the natal Sun; as long as Trump delivers on McConnell’s judicial agenda, he’ll stick by him

Mitch McConnell’s parlous relationship with the truth is depicted in more than just that Neptune/Truth conjunction. TNO Borasisi, noted for lies and deception, especially those related to a religious or philosophical perspective, closely squares the Sun from 2 Sagittarius, suggesting a readiness to mislead, distort or misrepresent in the attaining of a political agenda.

A traditional astrologer would note the conjunction of Venus with Mercury at 5 and 11 Aquarius, both retrograde, and note that McConnell might tend to understate or downplay his rhetoric in the cause of peacekeeping and politesse. And indeed, McConnell is notoriously soft-spoken, never raises his voice or appears more than mildly perturbed. But what is missed here, and revealed by asteroids, is that there are mitigating factors to that seeming willingness to compromise. Asteroid Lie conjoins Mercury from 14 Aquarius, indicating a basic inability to speak directly, with regard to facts, to express honest intent or communicate authentically.

Also here are Icarus, exactly conjoined Mercury, and Industria, at 9 Aquarius. Icarus with Mercury suggests rash, reckless decisions taken heedless of the consequences, acts which are ill-advised or short-sighted in their focus on the immediate goal rather than long-term repercussions. Industria here suggests that McConnell works hard at his deception, nose to the grindstone, as he churns out one falsehood after the other, asserting facts not in evidence, blurring the line between truth and fiction.

Another satiric take on McConnell’s Grim Reaper persona – the line of graves in the back represents his prior Democratic challengers, with an open pit already prepared for Amy McGrath in 2020, but with asteroid Amy at station in his birth chart, opposing asteroid McConnell and squaring Mitchella, the tale may end differently

Conjoining the Sun is asteroid Veritas, Latin for truth, at 4 Pisces. This can indicate an individual who is essentially truthful, but the solar connection also inclines the native to relativity. That is, “this is Truth, as I see it.” Situational ethics rule, as demonstrated in a recent deadpan assertion, when asked what he would do if a Supreme Court seat became vacant in 2020: “We’d fill it.” This from the man who deferred Merrick Garland’s nomination for 10 months in 2016/17 so the seat could be filled by the next president, on the grounds that such an august post could not be filled in an election year. As noted above, also here is asteroid Arachne, so for McConnell, the truth is … complicated. Wheels within wheels, as he thrashes out his version of veracity.

McConnell’s focus on the judiciary can be seen in two Grand Trines. In addition to its pivotal role in the Grand Cross, Jupiter at 11 Gemini trines both asteroid Themis, named for the Greek goddess of justice, at 8 Libra, and the Venus/Mercury/Lie stellium in Aquarius. Asteroid Justitia, named for Themis’ Roman counterpart and the root of our word “justice”, falls at 29 Capricorn, in a Grand Trine with Neptune at 29 Virgo and Saturn/Uranus at 22 and 26 Taurus. The latter pairing well depicts McConnell’s particular brand of radical (Uranus) conservatism (Saturn), allied to the zealotry and deceptions (both Neptune) he deploys to achieve his goal of overhauling the Federal judiciary (Justitia).

Of late, the Grim Reaper has acquired another nickname, not so much to his liking: Moscow Mitch. Like his supposed master, Donald Trump, McConnell seems to have the interests of the Kremlin at heart, from refusing to sign on to a joint statement warning Americans of Russian intervention in advance of the 2016 election, to downplaying the involvement of the Trump Campaign with Russian agents, to foiling attempts to fund increased election security. This moniker only seems fair, with asteroid Russia at 6 Pisces conjunct the Sun, and asteroid Moskva, Russian for Moscow, at 7 Libra, part and parcel of that Jovian Grand Trine. Squared asteroid America, Moskva may indicate some conflict between his country’s best interest and Vladimir Putin’s.

Ditching Mitch in 2020 may be a difficult proposition. Also at station in the birth chart is asteroid Victoria, named for the Roman goddess of victory (and the root of our word), so winning is a predominant energy in McConnell’s life. Victoria turned retrograde at 22 Libra just two days before McConnell’s birth, and forms a T-Square with natal asteroids Mitchella and McConnell, further personalizing her winning energies to him. As noted previously, after an initial close call, he has won reelection handily for thirty years, and the will to win, as well as the capacity to do so, is firmly embedded in his psyche.

As well, asteroid Nike’s placement within that precise Jovian Grand Cross that so well depicts his career makes victory a natural handmaiden to his political efforts. And on Election Day, 3 November 2020, transit asteroid Washingtonia at 13 Virgo will have just recently returned to its natal place, activating the entire pattern and perhaps prompting a literal “return to Washington.” On the other hand, any Return is an opportunity to “reset” the natal dynamic, and we may see that McConnell’s time in DC has run its course.

McConnell’s 2020 challenger, Amy McGrath, the US’ first female combat pilot; with a natal T-Square including asteroids Amy, Mitchella and Nemesis, McGrath could well prove his undoing

Because there is one last point at station in McConnell’s chart: asteroid Amy. At 19 Cancer, Amy turned direct 9 days after his birth, and closely opposes natal asteroid McConnell at 20 Cap, forming a T-Square with natal Mitchella at 20 Aries. This is an appropriate stance for Amy McGrath, opposing McConnell, and in contention for his job. The stationary quality shows her to be a potential major figure in McConnell’s biography, as anyone toppling him from his Senate eyrie would be.

With asteroid Senator at 12 Scorpio conjoined the Election Day Sun at 11 Scorpio, control of the Senate will be a major factor on the day, and transit Uranus in opposition from 8 Taurus signals more than one upset in the vote. With this polarity T-Squared McConnell’s natal Mercury/Lie conjunction, his long history of deceptive rhetoric may at last catch up with him, and it may be no coincidence that transit asteroid Amy at 14 Aquarius falls precisely on natal Lie. If McGrath can expose McConnell’s underlying lack of scruple and honesty, the tide could turn against him. Transit asteroid Mitchella at 25 Virgo opposes transit Neptune at 18 Pisces, perhaps an indication of a disappointing outcome (or a fraud or deception which gives him the win).

And what of Amy McGrath? Does she have the celestial chops to pull this off? Born 3 June 1975 (no time available) McGrath sports an exact conjunction of Mars with Victoria at 9 Aries, making her a born successful campaigner (in war and politics both). These square asteroid Senator at 6 Cancer, perhaps giving her a leg up on the job. Natal Amy at 22 Capricorn T-Squares Jupiter at 17 Aries and Saturn 17 Cancer, so a career (Saturn) in the Senate (Jupiter) seems a natural fit. Another indicator of a possibly successful run for DC office is a natal pairing of asteroids Nike and Washingtonia at 7 and 10 Leo.

Asteroid Amy also T-Squares a precise conjunction of natal Uranus/Nemesis at 28 Libra and asteroid Mitchella at 22 Aries. This could indicate an upset (Uranus) undoing (Nemesis) of McConnell (Mitchella), particularly as this pattern overlays his natal Grand Cross of McConnell, Mitchella, Amy and Victoria. Having blessed Mitch McConnell’s efforts for decades, is his natal Victoria ready to switch her allegiance to Amy, with whom she also has a relationship? Time will tell…