usa astrology chart

The USA astrology chart, the Declaration Chart, dated July 4th, 1776, is the most powerful chart we have for America.

How does this popular USA astrology chart function? First, this document is a de jure record of the founding of the United States. (De jure means in the law, and for more on de jure go to ascent to power charts). It remains one of the two foundations of American law. It is daily cited in legal arguments before the Supreme Court. Since the American Revolution had already begun when the Declaration was signed, many de facto dates exist for the founding of the United States. This document represents the formal, unified statement of separation from the British Empire, and thus the valid, legal beginning of the United States.

It begins:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The Declaration is a legal document making the announcement that one group of people is separating from another. Since these people consider themselves ethical, the entire situation needs explaining to the world. Two aspects of this chart stand out. First, the Pluto/Mercury opposition, appropriate in a document about war and revolution. Pluto points to respect for the rights of the individual. Second, Mercury is retrograde, and the inferior conjunction to the Sun would occur five days later. According to secondary progressions, each day can be seen as a year. Five years later General Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown (Oct 19, 1781, 5 years and 3 and 1/2 months later), and the birth of America was confirmed.

The second paragraph is one of the great codifications of political philosophy republics of free peoples known in human history:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalien­able Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness…

This paragraph is a statement of truth as its authors and signers perceived it. It is a statement of truth deriving among others from Cicero and Aristotle, Locke and Montesquieu. In astrology, Jupiter represents the search for truth. It rules philosophy of all kinds. Jupiter in this chart is conjunct and parallel the Sun, conjunct and parallel Venus, and it is parallel Mars. This document is a statement of political philosophy.

The first sentence of this philosophy states “that all men are created equal”. This statement announces that all people are created equally by God, and are given certain rights. This is a statement of eternal law, it states that these laws are the “laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”; it focuses on the rights of the individual, rather than on the rights of the state. Jupiter and Venus are two of the more influential law-giving planetary energies. Here they form a conjunction: That makes this statement a powerful one indeed. It is one reason why the Declaration is still used as a legal document, and is lodged in the legal code. “All men are created equal” could also be found in the Pluto/Mercury opposition, and possibly in the Mercury/Neptune sextile.

The statement continues saying, “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Life is the Sun in this chart. Liberty is Jupiter. And the pursuit of Happiness, that right to aspire and work toward one’s highest good, as defined in the first paragraph of Aristotle’s NichoMachean Ethics (“the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim”) is the conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and the Sun. This right is probably the source of the awe-inspiring inventiveness that has come out of America in the last two centuries.

The next sentence states:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. ­That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…

USA Astrology Chart: the Moon

The Moon rules the astrology of America. This statement shows very clearly in the chart with four planets in the astrological sign of Cancer—Mercury, the Sun, Jupiter and Venus. They are all disposited by the Moon, which is probably in Aquarius. In the chart of a nation, a civilization, a culture, the Moon always rules the people, the general population who have drawn together to build a city, a polis, a state, a nation. If the Moon disposits other planets, or as in this case, acts as the final dispositor of the chart, then in order for the chart to function, the needs of the Moon must be met. In America, ultimately the People rule everything. If the Constitution, the other legal foundation of American law, were to somehow be perverted, and government became “destructive”, the Declaration gives the American people the right to change or even abolish their whole system of government. Thus it is the “Right of the People”, symbolized astrologically by the Moon, to “alter or abolish” government. The people rule; the people are sovereign.

The power of this document is solemn and inspiring. It states that when government is changed too often, instability can result.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accord­ingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

This section is represented in many places in the chart. It is probably best shown in that closing last quarter square between Saturn and the Sun. This square in historical astrology is the “reflective” square: Problems that have come up before, and will come up again, are thought about, reflected upon, and remedies are suggested. This segment also demonstrates the basic drive of a people demanding a structure of rights built on the rule of law (Saturn in Libra), for a republic built on the guarantee of life, liberty, and the protection of private property, as John Locke explained. The fundamental drive to preserve and extend republican freedoms that had already been practiced in British America for over 150 years is found all over this chart—in the Sun/Saturn square, in the Saturn trine Uranus (no major aspect exists between Saturn and Neptune), in all the planets located in astrological Cancer, and if in nothing else, in the lunar domination of the chart.

The Pluto Mercury opposition enumerates the many wrongs that occurred under the domination of the British Crown; it clearly lists the wrongs imposed on British America by the King and Parliament. It closes with this statement:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

This statement functions as a bonding, wherein people unify their minds into something larger, into a kind of group-mind that carries out a larger purpose. That is why Rudhyar believed the Sun was located in the 8^th House of this chart. A powerful energy is thereby invoked here, one that has already lasted for more than two centuries.

Astrologically, this represents the Sun anti-parallel Pluto, and the Sun conjunct Jupiter. The pledging of lives and fortunes is all Plutonian and Scorpionic. The Pluto Mercury opposition says they are willing to die for these values, if they must.

Timing of the Declaration of Independence Astrology Chart

Let us begin now to apply some of these laws to our material. In the world of astrology much argument exists about which chart is the true, authentic chart for the United States of America.

The most popular chart–possibly used by more astrologers than any other in America–is the Gemini rising chart. Its speculative time is 2:17 A.M. L.M.T., Philadelphia, 1776.

If we apply The Law of Sources to this chart, we are not able to use it. Why? This chart does not rely on any researched historical data. It is purely speculative. The only argument for this chart is: “It works.” In astrology just about anything can be made to “work”.

If the astrologer desires a chart that “works”, let it be based on the precision of researched historical data, on The Law of Sources. If it is established on the premise that “It works” or on rectification or on some other kind of speculation, then one is speaking one’s own language, most likely not spoken by others. Any historical chart not based on The Law of Sources is specious; the Gemini rising chart for the U.S.A. has no authenticity.

Several workable charts for the United States fall within the scope of The Law of Sources. One is mentioned in The Book of World Horoscopes, an astro-historical text I recommend to anyone interested in the astrology of history. This chart comes closest to the actual record of an event, the signing of the Declaration. Derived from eyewitness testimony, it has come to be known as the Sibly chart.

Quoting from the Book of World Horoscopes:

Ebenezer Sibly, the astrologer who calculated the horoscope, was a Freemason and in the 1780′s was a member of Lodges first in Portsmouth and then in Bristol, two cities with intimate trading connections with the USA. (The first consulate was opened in Bris­tol.) On this basis Michael Baigent has presented a persuasive case that Sibly was excellently placed to receive an account of the time the Declaration was signed from those Freemasons in the USA, including Washington, Franklin and Hancock, who were responsi­ble for the creation of the new state.

Sibly’s horoscope was cast for the stated time of 10:10 PM, London time, which corresponds to 5:10 P.M. in Philadelphia, but unfortunately he made several errors in his calculation. The angles and house cusps appear to be calculated of 9:50 P.M. GMT, but the Sun, Moon and planets are cast for about 4.50 p.m., which corresponds to 11.50 a.m. in Philadelphia. It seems that Sibly made a mistake by setting his chart for twenty minutes earlier than the stated time, and then reversed the correct procedure, calculating the house cusps for Greenwich Mean Time and the Planets for Local Mean Time, instead of Vice versa.

…However, to take the chart for 4.50 p.m. is to become embroiled in Sibly’s series of errors of calculation, and it is recommended that the 5.10 p.m. chart be taken as the ‘genuine’ Sibly horoscope. It is also recommended that, in view of its historical pedigree and in the light of current evidence, this chart be taken as the best of all possibilities for the national horoscope of the USA. The short answer to astrologers who parade their own rectifications with such intolerance is to ask why theirs is the correct version, and all other rectified and speculative charts are wrong. [from Nicholas Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes(Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England: the Aquarian Press, 1988, pp. 298-299)]

Other USA charts exist, ones derived from historical testimony. Any chart derived from a primary or secondary source would be valid in the discipline of historical astrology. The Sibly chart seems to have the best documentation.

If someone uncovers proof that the Declaration was signed at a different time of the day, perhaps in the wee hours of the morning, as is so popular with American astrologers, then that would be the true chart for the USA.

How much of the Sibly chart can we use? If we are not sure of the time of day–and it is still a matter of debate and speculation–then we can’t be sure of our house cusps, can we? Nor is it certain in what degree the Moon is placed. Are we certain of either the degree of the ascendant or even perhaps its sign? These factors must always be taken into account when one is delineating the Sibly chart. Perhaps that 8° Uranus 55΄ in Gemini sits exactly on the 7th house cusp; in almost every war America has entered, that point has been activated. Perhaps not. If no validated historical time exists, great care needs to be taken in the use of houses, cusps and angles.

Good arguments exist for the Sagittarius rising chart; events occur when that point is activated. Still, this chart falls too within the realm of speculation. One would think that the placement of Pluto in the 2nd house of the Sibly chart would indicate why America is the wealthiest nation on the planet. Pluto rules the amassing of wealth, its vast sums, and the 2nd house is one of the economic houses. No matter how reasonable it seems, one cannot make such a statement in truth, for historical vagueness about the time of the actual signing remains.

Discipline must be exercised in the astrology of history. In using the 1776 chart, it would be best to employ only the planets. They can tell you a great deal about the USA.

It is possible to speculate within the discipline of these laws. Let us again examine the Sibly chart this time focusing on Pluto, which is antiparallel the Sun. Functioning as an opposi­tion, this subtle anti-parallel points to certain attributes in American political life. The President is commander in chief of the armed services (Pluto being the military, the Sun, and the president). The president may also have to deal with the karmic problems brought about by Pluto, as Lincoln had to deal with a civil war and the slavery issue. The president also has the implied responsibility to “make the economy work”, since Pluto is a major economic planet, and presidents have been voted out of office when the economy didn’t prosper. And George Washington, commanding the army during the 8 1/2 years of the Revolution, was for many years de facto president; he was the only one really in charge, holding everything together.

All these observations are historically significant; none of them use cusps or angles to make a point.

Though one cannot draw conclusions based on houses using the Sibly chart, one can use the cusps and houses in the 1787 Constitutional chart. We have it from no less an authority than James Madison’s diary that this document was signed at 4:00 p.m. The Constitutional chart’s 8° Aquarius rising, and its 7° Sagittarius Moon, both describing the American people, can be taken as genuine.

Of the two U.S. charts, the Declaration chart (7/4/1776) is perhaps the stronger. It reflects what the collective mind was attempting to achieve at the time. It reveals the legal and philosophical thrust of the American people, what Jefferson called “the American Mind–their civilization, economics, creative drives, etc.”

The other chart is the Constitutional chart (9/17/1787), timed from when the Founders signed the parchment of the Constitution, at around 4:00 P.M. LMT, in Philadelphia.

Why Use the Declaration Chart?

Without a time of signing, going by our rules for sources, we can use neither an ascendant nor houses. Even with these restrictions this is a responsive chart, encompassing all activities of American life—its economics, its wars, its politics, its inventions and discoveries, its creative arts. Most astrologers refer to this chart when asking questions about America. It is probably the strongest chart for America.

Even at this writing in the beginning of the 21st century, it remains a significant and powerful chart. On August 9th, 1974, when Nixon resigned as President of the United States, transiting Saturn was located in the sky at 13° Cancer 17΄, conjunct exactly the Sun of this chart and square its Saturn. Every major event in American history has a correlating transit to planets in this chart.

The Passing of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

An interesting event in history describes the dates of death of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They both sat at the table composing, editing and finally producing the finished copy of the Declaration of Independence. Both men considered July 4, 1776, to be the true date of the Declaration, and, strangely, they both died on that day, July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years after it was signed.

Note on the Difference Controversy

Many academic historians state that the Declaration and the US Constitution, which follow each other by an almost exact Jupiter period of orbit around the Sun, 11 years, have entirely different meanings and do not embody the same philosophy at all.  I believe this is a specious argument. Those involved in the Revolution, whether as fighters like Washington and Hamilton or as legislators, writers, ambassadors like Jefferson and Franklin and Adams and Madison, these were the same statesmen who fashioned the US Constitution. Washington led the fight for over eight years. Then, in 1787, he chaired the Constitutional Convention. Hamilton served in the American Revolution as an artillery officer and later as chief-of-staff to General Washington. In 1787, after attending the Constitutional Convention, he wrote 65% of the Federalist Papers, essays supporting the ratification of the Constitution by the States. And Hamilton and Madison, another author of the Federalist Papers, were present at the creation, that is, in the Revolution and at the Constitutional Convention. So you really have to look at the Constitution as a continuation of the Declaration, where, “in Order to form a more perfect Union”, it made real and specific in the law the republican freedoms they were structuring into a “new order of the ages”.