As President Trump is now the subject of a formal impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives, I studied the birth charts and progressed cycles (dashas and transits) of the three other U.S. Presidents who were subjected to formal impeachment proceedings: President Andrew Johnson, President Richard Nixon, and President William Clinton. I also studied horoscopes for the United States and also looked at various progressed charts for the United States horoscope (including several dashas) to see if I could recognize any consistent patterns. My hope was to be able to prognosticate on the outcome of the current impeachment inquiry involving President Trump.
I did find one possible pattern of interest which is in the Presidents’ horoscopes involving the transit of Jupiter (Guru), the astrological planet known as the “great benefic” and “Dev Guru” (teacher of the gods), who is the giver of divine grace that removes our greatest obstacles. Guru’s placement reveals the role of providence that is a result of past meritorious deeds. It represents divine protection and good fortune if well-placed in the horoscope by transit (and natally); and if not well-placed, may not be able to offer the individual as much positive support.
(Note: I use the sidereal system of astrology, Lahiri ayanamsa).
President Andrew Johnson was impeached on February 24, 1868, one day after a solar annular “Ketu” eclipse in Aquarius in the malefic sixth house of his birth chart. An eclipse in the sixth house points to this kind of event as this is the house that rules enmity, conflict, attacks, and legal proceedings. At the time of the impeachment, Jupiter, the planet of divine protection, law, and justice, was also transiting in a weakened position in President Johnson’s sixth house. On May 16, 1868, President Johnson was acquitted (by the Senate), as Jupiter had by then transited out of the sixth house and into the more harmonious seventh house of agreements and alliances, where it was now also in a more favorable position in its own sign of Pisces. When Jupiter transits in the seventh house, it is said that diplomacy and statesmanship will prevail; and as Jupiter directly aspects the first house from the seventh house, it has potential to grace the individual or entity with auspicious outcomes.
During President Richard Nixon’s presidency in late 1973, the Watergate scandal escalated and had cost him a great deal of support. A solar annular “Rahu” eclipse in Sagittarius occurred on December 24, 1973, in the fifth house of his natal chart, which is also the twelfth house of karmic loss in the Chandra lagna chart (from the Moon). A fifth house eclipse highlights issues related to politics and also can represent “danger to the leader in power,” as the fifth is eighth (danger) from the tenth (place of the leader), according to bhavat bhavam (derivative houses). More importantly, several of Nixon’s natal planets in the fifth house were activated by the solar eclipse, including Mars (triggering a serious crisis and conflict).
On February 6, 1974, formal impeachment proceedings were initiated, and on August 9, 1974, President Nixon resigned in the face of almost certain impeachment and removal from office—the only time an American president has done so. During this whole period, Jupiter, lord of justice and fortune, was transiting in Nixon’s sixth house of legal matters, conflict, and enmity. From the sixth house, Jupiter forms a quincunx (6/8 or shasta-ashtakam) with the first house/ascendant, which is a very unfortunate aspect that suggests the need for a major adjustment on the part of the individual, indicating that there would be little to no hope for exoneration. Jupiter in the sixth house can also be interpreted as “bad luck” and the loss of divine support and protection.
President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998 on grounds of perjury to a grand jury and obstruction of justice. A solar annular “Rahu” eclipse in Leo had occurred the previous summer in Clinton’s twelfth house (loss), fifth from his natal Moon (politics), and conjunct his natal Sun (representing some impending loss of his status and power being in the twelfth house).
Mars was transiting in conjunction with his natal Venus in the first house when impeachment was initiated, and Jupiter (planet of justice and good fortune) was transiting in his sixth house of attacks, conflict, and enmity. However, when he was acquitted on February 12, 1999, Jupiter had by then transited into his seventh house into Pisces, as had also occurred in the case of President Johnson’s acquittal chart. Again, Jupiter was now in a strong and protective sign and house, casting a positive and beneficial glance onto the first house, which brought his exoneration.
An impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump was initiated on September 24, 2019 over allegations that he had abused the power of the presidency by pressuring the President of Ukraine to help Trump in the 2020 election. On October 31, 2019, the House of Representatives voted to endorse an impeachment inquiry. At this time, Jupiter was transiting at the fated or karmic 29th degree of Scorpio conjunct his powerful natal Moon and opposite his natal Sun in the 4/10 nodal axis. The bhinnashtakavarga for Jupiter in the fourth house is quite powerful (7 of 8 points), signifying that this process will ultimately not have any negative outcome for the President.
On November 4, 2019, Jupiter transited into Sagittarius and the President’s natal fifth house where it will remain for most of 2020, and where it is quite strong in its own sign and also with a very high bhinnashtakavarga score (six out of eight points). The upcoming Sagittarius solar annular eclipse of December 25, 2019 will occur in this fifth house, in opposition to natal Mercury in Gemini which is being transited by his friend Rahu at the same time. The lunar eclipse of January 10 will conjoin Mercury too.
When a well-placed natal Mercury is activated by the nodes and eclipses like this, it often sets the stage for new understandings and agreements, and quite often, a bright new outlook. It’s interesting to consider that these positive effects on Mercury could also extend to negotiations between the President and Congress (which is governed by the eleventh house which Mercury rules and occupies in Gemini).
As mentioned before in the case of Andrew Johnson’s chart, an eclipse in the fifth house points to a political power play and “danger to the leader” as the fifth is eighth (danger) from the tenth house (place of the leader). But in this case, Jupiter’s grace and power also in the eclipse axis and fifth house suggests that the President, even if impeached, will be acquitted. I say this for one reason because a variety of other mundane horoscopes that I have examined reveal a strong possibility that President Trump will be reelected in 2020. Yet, this is difficult to say this for certain until we know who his opponent will be.
For now, just looking at the matter of impeachment and acquittal, note that Jupiter’s transit in the President’s fifth house occurs from 11/4/19 to 3/29/20 and then again from 6/29-20 to 11/20/20. This transit of Jupiter protects the President, and this is especially true as Jupiter is lord of his mahadasha (major planetary cycle) now. In the fifth house, Jupiter indicates poorva punya, or past life merit (luck). From the fifth house, it also aspects (trines) the ninth house of justice and destiny, and also trines the first house of power and purpose where yoga karaka (best planet) Mars the Warrior also resides. In the other two cases of Presidents who were acquitted from impeachment, Jupiter was also transiting in its own sign (in Pisces in those cases), and was aspecting the first house as in this case.
It is likely there will not be an impeachment before December 16, because of benefic Venus’ transit in the President’s fifth house (where benefic Jupiter is also transiting). Venus gives an auspicious and protective influence in this transit from November 21 to December 16. Venus’ transit is especially important to track here, as it is the third-level dasha lord (pratyantardasha lord) from November 30, 2019 until May 2, 2020. All this makes some of us wonder if there could perhaps be a push for censure instead of an impeachment?
As we draw nearer to the winter solstice on December 21, and then the December 25 solar eclipse, Venus (harmony and diplomacy) will also transit in the President’s sixth house of conflict and enemies, which could be a troublesome period when an impeachment could occur (Dec.16- Jan. 9).
It is possible that by the time Venus completes its transit in Aquarius in the President’s seventh house (around Feb. 3, give or take a few days), we could see an end to impeachment inquiries and a full acquittal (if there is an impeachment). These auspicious transits suggest it might be beneficial to the President politically in the long run if he were to be impeached, particularly as the Senate will most definitely acquit (will not remove the President from office).
However, because of the unpredictable eclipse season (Dec. 25 to Jan. 10) and the holiday season, and because of all the partisan conflict in Congress, this situation is in flux and the timing is difficult to foretell. If all of this transpires before April, it seems pretty clear per astrology that if there is an impeachment, the President will be acquitted. We are certainly living in historic times! Whatever the outcome, let us pray that truth and justice will always prevail, and pray for the welfare of all beings and for our beautiful planet while we’re at it!
Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May the Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself bestow peace on all and may that peace come to me also.
