When Barack Obama took the oath of office to begin his second term on January 20 the sun, as usual, was in the astrological sign of Aquarius – where it has been on every Inauguration Day since in 1937.
Thanks to the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution passed in 1933, the President’s term begins at noon on January 20th. Before this change the term began on March 4.
“Many people know that January 20th is the first day that the sun enters the astrological sign of Aquarius. But they may not realize that the actual time the sun enters the sign varies a bit each year and also depends on where someone is on the planet when the event occurs,” astrologer Armand Diaz explains.
This year, for example, the sun entered Aquarius at 4:51 p.m. EST on January 19th. Last year it entered the sign of the Water Bearer on January 20th at 11:09 a.m. EST.
“Setting the date for January 20th at noon Eastern Time virtually ensures that the sun will be in Aquarius when the U.S. President is sworn in,” Diaz says.
It’s possible but rare that the sun would still be lingering in Capricorn on January 20th at noon Eastern Standard Time. This happened in 2004 but has never happened on the day of a President’s inauguration.
There will be a close call on Inauguration Day in 2049. The sun will start this day in Capricorn but by noon will have nudged into the sign of Aquarius in the nation‘s capitol.
“Astrologers would see this as significant, because the moon was in Aquarius on July 4th, 1776,” Diaz points out.
“In the horoscope of a country, the moon is said to represent the people and Aquarius is seen as a progressive, principled sign often associated with democracy. It therefore seems very appropriate that the President take the oath of office when the sun – representing leadership – is in this sign.
“It’s probably coincidental, but then astrology is based on coincidence – meaningful coincidence,” he said.
Diaz believes another astrological coincidence that happened around this time is worth noting. In order to help the economy in 1939, President Roosevelt moved the U.S. Thanksgiving Day to the fourth Thursday in November from the last Thursday in the month – a change that became permanent in 1941.
Although the holiday may come earlier (the fourth Thursday can also be the last Thursday), the earliest Thanksgiving will be celebrated is on November 22nd. This places the sun right at the start of the sign Sagittarius, “which most astrologers take to be the ascendant or rising sign of the United States,” he said.
“The rising sign is the sign that is on the Eastern horizon at sunrise and is believed by astrologers to be embedded in the country’s collective psyche. Sagittarius is Jupiter’s sign and is identified with hope as well as a bit of naiveté,” he said.
