Why has the Republican Party lost its soul?
In 1854 Republicans defined themselves as a new American political party. In his seminal speech on October 16, 1854 Abraham Lincoln stood up for human rights in a country divided by slavery. Lincoln argued that: "If the negro is a man, why then my ancient faith teaches me that 'all men are created equal', and that there can be no moral right in connection with one man's making slave of another."
Today, in 2019, Republicans stand behind Donald Trump who has viciously attacked immigrants and people of color. What has happened to the ideals of the Republican Party? How can it be explained? In a recent poll 53 % of Republicans said that Trump is a better president than Abraham Lincoln. Why has the Republican Party lost its soul?
Why have the Republican morality and values flipped so shockingly in 2015? As the presidential campaign revved up the traditional candidates were jolted by the crudeness of Donald J.Trump. In place of Christian morality Trump blared intolerance, jingoism and egomania. There was no pretense of any moral values. What flipped so dramatically in 2015 were the very dreams, aspirations and a higher calling to national unity. In its place were put the narrow personal and group interests: an us vs. them mentality.
In astrological parlance Neptune represents ideals and dreams: something beyond the everyday material reality. It represents our spirituality: that we are more than just physical beings. It strives to find some cosmic unity to which we all belong. This is what Lincoln alluded to in 1854.
But today, in 2019, that dream has vanished from the Republican Party. It's been destroyed by D.J. Trump. Can anyone imagine Trump standing up for the oppressed and the enslaved? We know him to take advantage of people in shameful ways, to the point of now being impeached for it. Yet, people who call themselves Republicans still stand by him.
The Republican Party is undergoing a metamorphosis. Astrologically, the party is undergoing a Neptune return. The planet Neptune has returned to its natal position of 1854. This effect was within 5 degrees in 2015, shortly before Trump announced his candidacy. Returns usually mean a redefining of an original identity. It can be a time of confusion and disorientation when the old values are rejected. This is what seems to have happened to the Republicans. They are a far cry from what they were in 1854. Their ideals and dreams have radically shifted.
Neptune is again in the sign of Pisces. Central to the Pisces archetype is the concept of victimization. There is a high emotional sensitivity and compassion for victims. This was the case for the Republicans in 1854. Lincoln himself was very Piscean with his Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto in Pisces. He was genuinely moved by those who were suffering. But since 2015 the Republicans' feelings have reversed. Now the Republicans see themselves as victims. Astrologer Lloyd Cope expressed it this way: "If a negative Piscean, you will feel sorry mostly for yourself; if positively oriented, you will feel sorrow and anguish at man's inhumanity to man, and his inability to fathom what you feel so deeply and clearly."
Trump masterfully manipulated the Republican base starting with his announcement at Trump Tower where he declared that immigrants are criminals and rapists who victimize Americans. He made it seem justified and noble to attack immigrants and those not seen as "proper" Americans. "Real" Americans were the oppressed and victimized ones. This is the "moral" justification for Trumpism. They are fighting for justice for "real" Americans.
The noon natal chart for the Republican party is shown in the inner circle with the current transiting planets on the outer circle.
But there is more than just Neptune return going on presently. The Republican Party is going through extreme stress from additional transits. I will list these transits in a table form:
Natal Planet: Aspect: Transiting planet:
Neptune 13 degrees conjunction Neptune 15 degrees
Pluto 3 degrees conjunction Uranus 3 degrees
Jupiter 19 degrees conjunction Saturn 18 degrees
Sun 23 degrees opposition Eris 23 degrees
Uranus square Pluto transit is a sign of radical and revolutionary change. It is associated with social and political upheavals. The Republicans were ready to go extreme and radical under Trump's direction. In addition, the Jupiter Saturn transit means that there is a stalemate. The Republicans are presently stuck in their radical position. There could be some movement after February 2020 when the two planets separate by more than 5 degrees. However, Jupiter will be affected by Pluto well into 2021. This could mean that Republicans will stubbornly dig in and not abandon Trumpism. Soon after January 2021 the Neptune return will be over and the Republicans might formulate a different vision for their party.
Another fateful transit is the opposition of dwarf planet Eris to Republican Party Sun at 23 degrees of Libra. Eris brings about shocking and unexpected events. Trump's election in 2016 was one such event. Eris plays a prominent role in both Trump's and Putin's natal charts. They executed a hostile takeover of the Republican Party in 2016 and they are persisting with their attacks for 2020. (See my previous blogs on Putin, Trump, 2016 and 2020 elections)
To summarize: The radicalization of the Republican Party is happening at the same time as powerful transits of transpersonal planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris. These bring about profound social crises and change. How the Republican Party comes out of this remains to be seen.
Today, in 2019, Republicans stand behind Donald Trump who has viciously attacked immigrants and people of color. What has happened to the ideals of the Republican Party? How can it be explained? In a recent poll 53 % of Republicans said that Trump is a better president than Abraham Lincoln. Why has the Republican Party lost its soul?
Why have the Republican morality and values flipped so shockingly in 2015? As the presidential campaign revved up the traditional candidates were jolted by the crudeness of Donald J.Trump. In place of Christian morality Trump blared intolerance, jingoism and egomania. There was no pretense of any moral values. What flipped so dramatically in 2015 were the very dreams, aspirations and a higher calling to national unity. In its place were put the narrow personal and group interests: an us vs. them mentality.
In astrological parlance Neptune represents ideals and dreams: something beyond the everyday material reality. It represents our spirituality: that we are more than just physical beings. It strives to find some cosmic unity to which we all belong. This is what Lincoln alluded to in 1854.
But today, in 2019, that dream has vanished from the Republican Party. It's been destroyed by D.J. Trump. Can anyone imagine Trump standing up for the oppressed and the enslaved? We know him to take advantage of people in shameful ways, to the point of now being impeached for it. Yet, people who call themselves Republicans still stand by him.
The Republican Party is undergoing a metamorphosis. Astrologically, the party is undergoing a Neptune return. The planet Neptune has returned to its natal position of 1854. This effect was within 5 degrees in 2015, shortly before Trump announced his candidacy. Returns usually mean a redefining of an original identity. It can be a time of confusion and disorientation when the old values are rejected. This is what seems to have happened to the Republicans. They are a far cry from what they were in 1854. Their ideals and dreams have radically shifted.
Neptune is again in the sign of Pisces. Central to the Pisces archetype is the concept of victimization. There is a high emotional sensitivity and compassion for victims. This was the case for the Republicans in 1854. Lincoln himself was very Piscean with his Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto in Pisces. He was genuinely moved by those who were suffering. But since 2015 the Republicans' feelings have reversed. Now the Republicans see themselves as victims. Astrologer Lloyd Cope expressed it this way: "If a negative Piscean, you will feel sorry mostly for yourself; if positively oriented, you will feel sorrow and anguish at man's inhumanity to man, and his inability to fathom what you feel so deeply and clearly."
Trump masterfully manipulated the Republican base starting with his announcement at Trump Tower where he declared that immigrants are criminals and rapists who victimize Americans. He made it seem justified and noble to attack immigrants and those not seen as "proper" Americans. "Real" Americans were the oppressed and victimized ones. This is the "moral" justification for Trumpism. They are fighting for justice for "real" Americans.
The noon natal chart for the Republican party is shown in the inner circle with the current transiting planets on the outer circle.
But there is more than just Neptune return going on presently. The Republican Party is going through extreme stress from additional transits. I will list these transits in a table form:
Natal Planet: Aspect: Transiting planet:
Neptune 13 degrees conjunction Neptune 15 degrees
Pluto 3 degrees conjunction Uranus 3 degrees
Jupiter 19 degrees conjunction Saturn 18 degrees
Sun 23 degrees opposition Eris 23 degrees
Uranus square Pluto transit is a sign of radical and revolutionary change. It is associated with social and political upheavals. The Republicans were ready to go extreme and radical under Trump's direction. In addition, the Jupiter Saturn transit means that there is a stalemate. The Republicans are presently stuck in their radical position. There could be some movement after February 2020 when the two planets separate by more than 5 degrees. However, Jupiter will be affected by Pluto well into 2021. This could mean that Republicans will stubbornly dig in and not abandon Trumpism. Soon after January 2021 the Neptune return will be over and the Republicans might formulate a different vision for their party.
Another fateful transit is the opposition of dwarf planet Eris to Republican Party Sun at 23 degrees of Libra. Eris brings about shocking and unexpected events. Trump's election in 2016 was one such event. Eris plays a prominent role in both Trump's and Putin's natal charts. They executed a hostile takeover of the Republican Party in 2016 and they are persisting with their attacks for 2020. (See my previous blogs on Putin, Trump, 2016 and 2020 elections)
To summarize: The radicalization of the Republican Party is happening at the same time as powerful transits of transpersonal planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris. These bring about profound social crises and change. How the Republican Party comes out of this remains to be seen.
