The Astrology of the 2024 Election
You knew it was coming, but feel free to disregard if it doesn't interest you :)
Welcome back to Smartt Takes! I want to try something different and supplement my final, political analysis yesterday with contextual, astrological analysis to the election. Note, this is not a prediction, rather an interpretation of what’s going on. While I do think that stars can influence our natural decision-making, we have free will and the ultimate outcome is predicated on voter turnout.
To conduct this analysis, I employed a few different astrological techniques, including natal birth charts, transits happening in the sky, predictive charts of each of the candidates for the year, and mundane/historical astrology. I’m going to try to keep this brief but informative. As always, take what you want and leave the rest.
Quick note: I’ve tried to make this as clear as possible, but astrology is a language of its own. If it helps, check out my political astrology definitions primer (just scroll a bit) :).
Second note: These are not all of the important aspects or helpful points, but I just wanted to illustrate the ones that stuck out to me.
Alright, let’s get into it.
The U.S. Pluto Return & Pluto Entering Aquarius: Dawn of a New Era:
In astrology, Pluto represents permanent transformation, change, and even loss. It brings profound shifts to whatever area of your life it touches. Since Pluto takes 248 years to complete its rotation around the sun, it only moves through each part of the sky once in a lifetime, making these transformations “permanent.” (As a side note, you might feel particularly settled in a certain area of your life after November 19.)
Just like individuals, countries have birth charts. And since countries last longer than people, they can experience a “Pluto return”—when Pluto revisits the same spot in the chart, activating themes from that country’s founding. Right now, the U.S. is undergoing its Pluto return, so we’re revisiting some original themes from our country’s creation, like laws, structures, and institutions.
Pluto first entered Capricorn (the sign of institutions and power) in 2008, just before the financial crisis. Capricorn rules the structures that govern society—financial systems, political institutions, leadership, and traditions. Pluto’s move into Capricorn brought upheaval in these areas, and since then, it’s been moving between Capricorn and Aquarius (its first dip into Aquarius happened right before the SVB bank crisis in March 2023).
On November 19, Pluto will leave Capricorn for good in our lifetimes. Candidly, I’m a bit concerned about the financial implications, but that’s for another day. As I mentioned, Pluto is the planet of permanent transformation, and destruction and Capricorn is the sign of power, institutions and structure. It’s ruled by Saturn (essentially the “father of the sky”, about discipline, leadership, etc).
Since 2008, Pluto has acted as a wrecking ball in Capricorn, transforming power structures and institutions as we know them. We’ve had:
A financial crisis that impacted the globe and completely destroyed the housing market;
A global pandemic where millions of people died, and one that completely transformed the way we think about institutions, work structure, how we’ve made money, etc;
An attempted overthrow of the peaceful transfer of power in 2020;
A party where their elected nominee stepped down four months before the 2024 election;
A complete shift in how we view incumbents, as well as how we value experience.
Urging for reform, whether term limits or modifying the Supreme Court, etc.
Leaders try to amass nearly dictatorial-like power across the world;
A huge reversal of women’s rights that had been assumed to be law.
We have been living in, as we keep hearing, “unprecedented times.” Think about the history books those after us will read.
Currently, Pluto is at the end of Capricorn at 29 degrees, indicating the end/death of something. This dissolution of our structures, and the desire/need to have us rebuild, starts… November 19, when Pluto moves into Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign of the humanitarian, the collective, sciences, and the forward thinker. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the disrupter, innovator and “the revolution planet.” It’s also traditionally ruled by Saturn… again that father figure.
The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, for example, historically we had the Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Revolutionary War, among other things. Moving into Pluto in Aquarius indicates the shifting into an era further transforming how we value power, innovation, as well as the collective yearning for change.
What does this mean for the election?
If Pluto had moved into Aquarius before the election, Harris would have a clear advantage to win the election. Pluto in Aquarius, again, indicates a disruption into the status quo. A Black woman president would certainly disrupt the entire demographic lineage of U.S. presidents as we currently know it.
A caveat to this is that some astrologers have seen the threat that Trump will destroy democracy as the U.S. understands it, as an indication that he is the Pluto archetype. To be honest, I think if Trump was running for the first time in this election or had yet to win, representing something new, innovative and disruptive, then this would favor the former president.
Trump’s established presence, however, aligns more with Pluto in Capricorn themes of institutional power. A caveat to the caveat is that, while he is not perhaps the archetype, we can see him creating a rather “disruptive” cabinet, full of innovators. Think, Elon Musk & Robert F. Kennedy, two people who have revolutionized their industries in various ways and would like set Trump administration policy.
Harris too could be seen as not being Aquarian enough, namely that she is part of a current administration, indicating continuity, rather than disruption. But, Pluto doesn’t move into Aquarius until November 19. which suggests that while we are on the precipice of a shift, we are seeking a revolutionary leader quite yet, a la Maximillian Robespierre. Indeed, Harris uniquely bridges Capricorn (ending of one administration) and also running as the first women, black president (a disruption to the historical, presidential trend) which perhaps indicates she has the edge of being a Pluto in Aquarius archetype.
So, if we can’t get a clear view on Election Day, then what about Inauguration Day?
On January 20, 2025, the day of the inauguration, the Sun will enter Aquarius and Pluto will be at 1° Aquarius, again, indicating, the dawn of a new era in leadership.
Upon review, both candidates’ charts and transits for this day could be read favorably, depending on the post-election dynamics.
For Harris: Aquarius rules her 9th house (higher thinking, expansion, and spiritual or academic leadership, even a sense of “martyrdom”). Her Uranus is in her 4th house, possibly signaling challengers she’ll face. The other thing to note about Inauguration Day, is that the Moon will be in Libra, which, incidentally is Harris’ Sun sign, suggesting a favorable, emotional day for her.
For Trump: Aquarius rules his 7th house (partnerships and legal matters). By Election Day, legal issues may be a significant focus, which could work to his advantage if courts are involved in the election outcome. Meanwhile, his Uranus sits in his 11th house (groups and communities), and his followers certainly see him as a disruptor (again the Pluto archetype).
Overall, astrology seems to lean toward Harris. But if legal institutions are involved, the scales may tilt towards Trump, though this may also overlap with his personal, legal battles.
Eclipses and Presidential History
For the last 50+ years, every incoming president has had eclipses going over their 1st House rising sign (self-identity) or their 10th House midheaven (their career/public-image). Eclipses are said to accelerate momentous events. Indeed, when the presidential candidate has this aspect around the election/inauguration, they win the election.
From every candidate since Reagan, this has been the case. Now of course, things change, but it can be a useful indicator in this regard. In 2016, Trump had this set of eclipses right around the inauguration. Biden had this eclipse pattern in 2020, though, he would not have had a similar eclipse pattern until March 13, 2025. Trump also doesn’t have that eclipse pattern this year.
Over the last two years, we’ve had an Aries/Libra eclipse period, with the latest Libra eclipse on October 2, 2024. On September 17, 2024, we began our transition, however, into a Pisces/Virgo eclipse period over the next two years, with an eclipse in Pisces. The Aries/Libra axis would have eliminated Harris from the lineage; however, the Virgo/Pisces eclipse took place on her 10th house, creating this period of eclipses on her midheaven.
The one caveat here, is that Harris is currently going through her second Saturn return (transiting Saturn activating her natal Saturn) in Pisces, so Saturn is currently in her 10th house. During your Saturn return, one typically faces challenges and obstacles (think, coming of age around ages 27-30) that, if one is able to overcome, then after Saturn moves out of that house, they level up. Even if she assumes the presidency, we expect there to be challenges and obstacles for her to overcome until at least 2026.
Uranus & Women’s Participation
As I’ve mentioned, Uranus is a critical planet for the next 20 years when Pluto is in Aquarius. Uranus, again is the disruptor. Uranus historically has also indicated advancements for minorities, particularly women. Candidly, earlier this year when I was first reading the election chart, I was confused because I kept seeing a woman in the election, and Nikki Haley didn’t seem to have strong enough report. So, I was reading the chart wrong, and it would be RFK Jr with a woman VP. Of course, now I know that my interpretation was actually Harris.
Uranus, as the disruptor, often signals advancements for minorities, particularly women, when it makes key aspects in a chart. This disruptive energy has historically supported women’s movements and expanded women’s rights, especially when Uranus aligns with the Moon (symbolizing the people, particularly women) in a country’s chart.
In the U.S. 20th-century history, we can trace major Uranus transits that correspond with advances in women’s rights:
1920: Women (though not all) gained the right to vote.
1941: Women were ushered into the workforce while men served in WWII, reshaping domestic norms.
1973: Roe v. Wade was decided, marking a significant milestone in reproductive rights.
On Inauguration Day, Uranus will form a hard aspect to the Moon, potentially signaling another major shift for women’s rights and societal participation.
Historically, each of these events was preceded by significant activism. Therefore, for Harris to reach the presidency, women’s turnout in this election could be essential. If they turn out in high numbers, women may indeed reach the highest zenith of power in the U.S.
A Possible Alternative Theory
Reading the astrology, there’s a strong suggestion that Trump might remain a prominent figure even if he doesn’t win. Uranus moving into Gemini next year has historically signaled the onset of conflicts (Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII). Typically, during this time frame, there is a key leader involved who has a Gemini Sun that connects to Uranus. As it stands, Trump has this aspect pattern, suggesting that, whether he wins or not, Trump may be a prominent figure in the spring, perhaps in rebellion to leadership. Jefferson Davis, for example, also had this pattern.
Final Thoughts
The astrology suggests this election may be contentious and drawn out, with results that could take time to settle, again suggesting legal involvement. But ultimately, free will shapes the outcome. As such, here’s hoping for a free, fair, and secure election with a peaceful transfer of power. :)
Thanks again and we’ll be back in the coming weeks for post-election analysis, as well as Pluto’s entrance into Aquarius. Until then!