Alex's Asteroid Astrology

As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, it’s only fitting we take a closer look at the chart of the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.  This founding document was written in large part by Thomas Jefferson, working on several drafts between June 11th and 28th, 1776.  In the midst of this process, on June 18th, a wee bit of space debris, an asteroid that would be named “America” nearly 150 years later, came to a critical stage in its orbit about the sun.

That stage is called a station, a point where, due to the triangulation between the Earth, the sun, and any third celestial body, that body appears, from our perspective, to slow, come to a standstill in the heavens and reverse motion for a time.  Astronomically, this is an optical illusion, but astrologically, the station has great import, allowing energies associated with that point to coalesce and embed themselves in the collective consciousness, as well as in the psyches of individuals for whom the station falls in significant aspect.  In consequence, the body takes on an enhanced ability to promote manifestations, which tend toward the momentous, marking watershed events, major changes of fortune, and significant shifts in direction.  In short, turning points.

In the case of Thomas Jefferson (born 23 April 1743, no time available), asteroid America came to its station at 26 Libra in that hot, humid Philadelphia summer opposed his natal Sun at 23 Aries, itself conjoined asteroid Jefferson 30928 at 21 Aries, a point later named for him, in a T-Square with Uranus at 26 Capricorn.  Uranus is the planet ruling revolt and rebellion, independence, and the establishment of something new and unique.  Its natal square to Jefferson’s Sun made him a natural-born revolutionary, and as he sweated away in his second-floor boarding house digs on the rough draft of what would become one of the defining documents of human history, the asteroid named for the country he was helping to create made its powerful impact on him personally, as well as the world.

By the time of the actual signing, on 4 July 1776, asteroid America had moved on to the subsequent degree (27 Libra), from where it formed patterns in the chart of the new nation that well describe its mission and self-image.  Although not discovered until 1915, and named in honor of both American continents, America works very well as a cosmic placeholder for the United States, which is often termed simply “America.” 

From its elevated perch in the Tenth House, asteroid America reaches out with an exact trine to the US Moon at 27 Aquarius and an exact square to the US Pluto at 27 Capricorn, forming a T-Square with natal Mercury at 24 Capricorn.  This is no more than appropriate for a country ostensibly founded on Free Speech (Mercury), with a governance “of the people, by the people, for the people” (Moon), which would, in time, become one of, if not the, most powerful (Pluto) nations the world has ever known.

But America doesn’t stop there.  It also forms a Grand Cross, opposing a pairing of asteroids George 3854 and Washingtonia 886, at 27 Aries and 0 Taurus, respectively, encapsulating the name of the man who masterminded the American Revolution, and became the first president of the fledgling state.  Washingtonia is actually named for General George Washington, and continues to function as an emblem of the US federal government and its capital, Washington DC.  Also in this mix, asteroid James 2335 at 23 Aries, which we can take in this context to refer to James Madison, chief architect of the US Constitution, the device which specifies the form the government would take, and who was also America’s fourth president.

Additional markers within this pattern, of persons or themes that would become significant to the nation’s history, include asteroid House 4950 at 25 Libra, conjunct America, here indicating the US House of Representatives, the legislative body set out in the Constitution as the primary organ of government. 

Mercury is conjoined by asteroid Hancock 3731 at 26 Cancer, named for John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress whose oversized signature (Mercury) was the first to be applied to the Declaration of Independence (as a document, also generally Mercury-ruled).  Mercury is also conjoined exactly by asteroid Agita 4392, having an unfortunate effect on the US electorate (Mercury), signaling an innate apprehension, agitation, upset, worry and fearfulness (all Agita) which renders it overly susceptible to manipulation or coercion (the Pluto opposition), especially by the very wealthy and powerful vested interests (both Pluto).

The fly in the celestial ointment that is America is asteroid Nemesis 128, which at 28 Aries conjoins Washingtonia and opposes America.  Nemesis is noted as the bringer of ruin and destruction, and, from Shay’s Rebellion in 1786 to the January 6^th Capitol Insurrection in 2021, many Americans have viewed their government (America/Washingtonia) as an enemy or opponent (Nemesis).

Asteroid America also features prominently in the charts of many of the Founding Fathers.  For George Washington (born 22 February 1732 at 10 AM LMT in Westmoreland, VA, Rodden Rating AA), the winning commander of the Revolutionary forces and the US’ first president, America at 12 Libra conjoins Jupiter at 8 Libra and Pluto at 17 Libra, squared the Moon at 16 Capricorn.  This establishes Washington as a larger-than-life figure (Jupiter), a key element of the nation’s birth (Pluto) and transformation (also Pluto) to an independent state, a man beloved of the people (Moon), termed “the Father of his Country.”

John Adams (born 30 October 1735, no time available), America’s second president, an early champion of independence and the original proposer of the establishment of the Continental Army in 1775, had America at 11 Libra conjoined Mars at 15 Libra, ruling the military and champions alike.

Jefferson, in addition to writing the Declaration, was an early ambassador for the US, and the country’s third president.  Natal America at 10 Libra also conjoins Jupiter, for the man who fueled American expansion (Jupiter), doubling the size of the new nation at one throw with his Louisiana Purchase (also signaling his ambassadorial work with foreign relations).  America is also squared to natal Neptune at 9 Cancer, enabling Jefferson to capture the spirit (Neptune) of the nation, and as critical in forming its aspirational, foundational myth (also Neptune), that all men are created equal.

James Madison (born 16 March 1751, no time available), the fifth president and author of the US Constitution, the creator of Madisonian democracy, had America at 24 Sagittarius, squared his natal Sun at 25 Pisces, in a reciprocal relationship whereby he defined the nation, as it defined him.

Asteroid America isn’t alone in its elevated status.  Also affording celestial clout are asteroids Veritas 490 at 10 Scorpio, and Themis 24 at 12 Scorpio, both embedded at station.  Veritas is named for the Latin word for “truth;” Themis is named for the Greek goddess of justice.  This brings to mind the iconic American slogan, coined by comic book character Superman in the 1940s, that he was fighting for “truth (Veritas), justice (Themis) and the American way (America).”  Surely Americans have always seen themselves in this light, as focused on truth and justice, though others may not share that opinion.

Other significant placements include asteroid Justitia 269 at 26 Virgo (named for the Roman goddess of justice), conjoined the 1 Libra Midheaven, doubling down on the elevated status (MC) of “justice” in the American psyche; and asteroid Whitehouse 4036 at 18 Virgo, emblematic of the presidency itself (resident at the White House), which conjoins Neptune at 22 Virgo and asteroid Panacea 2878 at 16 Virgo.  Neptune suggests the faith (Neptune) that many Americans once had, that the president (Whitehouse) could wave his magic wand and unmake all ills with some quick-fix cure-all (Panacea), as well as their disillusionment (Neptune) when they realized that wasn’t true. 

Whitehouse is also squared to the US Ascendant at 12 Sagittarius, and Mars at 21 Gemini.  The contact to the Ascendant makes the White House an iconic emblem of the country’s public image, while the Mars connection suggests it as the residence of the nation’s leader.  Finally, Whitehouse is exactly squared asteroid Adams 1996 at 18 Sagittarius, representing John Adams, the first US president to occupy the White House, who was also the public face (conjoined the Ascendant) of the country in its earliest years, serving as ambassador to France, The Netherlands, and Great Britian itself, following its recognition of American independence.

Other giants of early American history are present in asteroid form as well.  Asteroid Jefferson 30928 at 14 Capricorn exactly squares the US Saturn at 14 Libra, for the third president (Saturn) who was also the architect (Saturn) of the Declaration of Independence.  Asteroid Thomas 2555 at 1 Aries exactly conjoins the IC, the “foundational” point of the chart, establishing Jefferson as instrumental in the nation’s founding.

That Thomas placement does double duty, also for Thomas Paine, author of the pamphlet “Common Sense,” which did so much to set Americans’ imaginations afire with the nascent prospect of independence.  Paine is also seen as asteroid Paine 5188, which at 22 Leo opposes the US Moon, rallying the people to the cause he so eloquently espoused.

Benjamin Franklin is perhaps the most important figure from that period who never held high office.  Seventy at the time of the Revolution, Franklin was a recognized global celebrity due to his experiments with electricity; the glue that bound together the Continental Congress, mediating between rival factions in the delegation; and the man who secured France’s financial and military support for the American cause.  His pivotal role in American independence is expressed in the chart by stationary asteroid Benjamina 976 at 16 Pisces, a feminine form of the name, squared the US Horizontal Axis.   Asteroid Franklina 982 at 5 Libra conjoins the 1 Libra Midheaven, the point of highest elevation in the chart, the focus of all eyes.  This reflects Franklin’s international status and reputation (Midheaven), which granted the nascent nation a legitimacy and gravitas it would otherwise have lacked.  Franklina is also trine the US Uranus at 8 Gemini, ruling electricity, a nod to what gave Franklin his fame.

On the distaff side of the Revolution, we find Martha Washington, America’s first First Lady.  Asteroid Martha 205 at 25 Sagittarius is sextile asteroid Juno 3 at 20 Libra, named for the Roman goddess of marriage, and asteroid America, and is trine asteroid George at 27 Aries, displaying her as the supportive (trine) spouse (Juno), keeping the home fires burning (and the plantation running) while George was off creating a nation. 

Betsy Ross, the Philadelphia seamstress who sewed the first American flag, of thirteen stripes of red and white, and a circle of thirteen stars on a blue field, holds a special place in her countrymen’s hearts.  Ross is represented by asteroid Betsyglass 19787 at 16 Gemini conjoined asteroid Flagstaff 2118 at 18 Gemini, combining a variation of her first name with a referent for the flag she helped to create, also Angular on the US Descendant.

And there we have it, the story of the founding of America, written in the stars with celestial bodies undiscovered when it came into being, but clearly filling in the details of the Declaration of Independence chart with a roadmap of its destiny.

Title Image Credit:  drawn by Chat GPT