Australian Federal election 2013

Australian Federal Election 2013- Take 2

When then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced the date for the September election back in January, I wrote a brief delineation of the chart, giving an overwhelming victory to the coalition. Of course the rider on that was always that it depended on Julia still being in the position come the election. When she was beaten for the position by K Rudd all bets were off the table. So with a new date and a new/old Prime Minister what do the planets indicate?

Well, what a difference a week makes. With the new date just one week earlier than the original, not much has changed astrologically, but, there is enough to indicate that the outcome is no longer quite so clear cut. The biggest difference, is that the original date of the election had the planet which represented the opposition placed in the part of the chart that indicates the government, therefor an indicator of a win for the opposition, while the chart for the 7th has the planet representing the government in this position, giving favour to a government victory. Quite a different scenario. Both charts have Jupiter, known as the ‘King’ planet strong and in an elevated position. It looks auspicious, but for who? Hopefully that will become clearer as we examine further. The Moon, which represents the people, is telling quite a different story in the two dates. On Gillard’s date, Sep 14, the Moon was in a placement that showed the voters as being firm and decisive. Rudd’s date shows the Moon in quite a different light, with a lot of confusion among the voters. This could see many not making up their mind until they enter the polling booth. This placement will also bring the minor parties into play. Both the government and the opposition are courting minor parties for preferences, a recognition that nothing is ever assured, or clear cut, no matter the polls.

The new date does seem to improve the Labor party chances, not necessarily for a victory but for avoiding the total annihilation indicated in the charts for the 14th.

Using the same traditional methods as the earlier article, the planets ruling the Asc/Des are reversed. The first house (Government) is now ruled by Venus, in her own sign and strong in the Ascendant, this would favour the return of the government. Gillard’s date saw half of the planets peregrine, without dignity, Rudd’s has only one peregrine planet, the Sun, which represents the leader. The Sun is also poorly aligned with Uranus, which leads me to believe a change of leader is indicated. The Sun is also sextile Jupiter on the MC (highest point), if this is as auspicious as mentioned, with the connection to Uranus is it auspicious for a change of leadership? I believe so. Venus, on Gillard’s date, is with Saturn, lending strength to a conservative win. This aspect is missing on Rudd’s date but there is a mutual reception by triplicity. This is not a strong link but it does weigh on the side of the conservatives. The moon represents the people and while it was showing strength on the original date, for the new election date, as mentioned, it is in difficult aspect to Neptune and in house of hiding. Not only does this signify confusion or even possible deception but also that the will/needs of the people may be lost in all the election hype. There is another way of looking at Government/Opposition in a chart, which is to look at other divisional angles. Here, the ruler of the highest point (gov) is the Moon which is hidden away and Saturn ruling the base of the chart (opp) and rising in the 1st which again favours a win by the opposition parties. One final planet that needs a mention is Mercury. Also tucked away with the Moon, it is easy to overlook the strongest and most dignified planet in the chart. It throws a little used, quindecile aspect to Uranus. According Noel Tyl, this aspect is a “burning point of focus”,”.. a place of extreme concern and effort ..” “…even to the point of upheaval, disruption, and obsessive mania.” Could this indicate the media have got it wrong again and the news will be not what is expected? There has certainly been a very biased media frenzy at the time of writing this, with little regard for facts or truth.

These changes, all bring the combatants closer in terms of strength and this is not the clear cut vision of the date chosen by Gillard. There are for and against for both of the major players.

The central feature of the chart for the day of election is a chart pattern similar to one that Ed Tamplin named the ‘Dumpster’, or ‘too hard basket’, which is formed with all ‘hard’ aspects. The pattern in the election chart has a similar shaped but formed from different aspects or angles. As this one is not just hard aspects but has some easing, or relieving aspects, it allows for an easier resolution, a difficult basket case but not impossible. Mars, representing the opposition is at the elevated lip of this configuration, which also contains, Uranus (unexpected), Saturn (tradition) and Pluto (power). Mars is in the house of government, applying positively to Uranus receiving a boost from Saturn but in an aspect to Pluto, holding it all together at the base of the chart, but indicating adjustments and interference. This is overall positive for the Opposition but not easy, it indicates impediments, or obstacles to be overcome.

The interference but also possible assistance will come from the minor parties, of which there are a record number in this election. The two that appear to have the largest role to play are Katter’s Australian Party and Palmer’s United Party.

Bob Katter (22 May 1945), was born on the day of a Moon/Neptune conjunction, with all of the planets in a bowl pattern, occupying less than half of the zodiac. The bowl is a pattern that encloses all the planets in a span of less than or equal to 180 degrees. If it is under the 180 degrees there can be a lack of objectivity, as this perspective is brought to the chart by the opposition. The bowl is a useful pattern for someone who likes to get things done, as it increases focus, but without the objectivity of the opposition the focus is subjective. In Katter’s case there are no oppositions between the planets.

Katter was raised in a political environment, his father Bob Katter senior, having held the seat of Kennedy for the Country Party, from 1966 until he retired in February 1990, choosing not to contest the election. He died a month later, a week before the election was held. The federal seat of Kennedy is one of the largest in the country, covering over half a million square kilometres and larger than 2 United Kingdoms. Although still dwarfed in size by the 2 large electoral areas of WA it is the largest on the east, spanning from Townsville to Cairns on the coast, although encompassing neither, and stretching all the way to the NT border. It is a combination rural and mining area which has been home to many migrants. Katter senior was Australian born of Lebanese ancestry, the original surname was “Kat’r” before it was anglicised. He was a cousin of the famous romantic poet Kahlil Gibran and was referred to affectionately in parliament as `the old camel driver', in reference to his Middle Eastern origins (Hansard). Katter senior spent his life in service to his community in one way or another. Following a long time as a union leader, he began his political career as a member of the Labor party before its division in 1957. He was in the local council for 20 years, with two terms in leadership before his tilt at federal politics. Katter senior was an activist for equality long before it became trendy and did much to improve the life of the indigenous communities in the north.

Bob Katter the younger, grew up in his father’s shadow and shared many of his attitudes and approaches to a ‘fair go’ for all. He was the state member for Flinders from 1974 to 1992, resigning to run for his father’s federal seat at the 1993 election. Bob Katter jnr, took the seat of Kennedy back for the Nationals and the Katter family dynasty. He left the party to become an independent in 2001 and formed Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) in 2011, with the registration finally approved on September 28. KAP currently has 3 members in the Queensland parliament, including the 3rd generation Rob Katter, son of party founder Bob Katter.

Katter’s Australian Party has the same container pattern as present on the day of the election, also with Mars similarly angled to Pluto. Mars is again prominent but is at the base of this container, rather than the lip as on election day .

The chart for the KAP party is strongly activated on the day of the election, with the exchange of energy from Mercury and the Moon in both charts, indicating there will plenty of people talking about it. Uranus is also active again with the Moon and Mercury, which further indicates, this party could be a real surprise packet on the day. The Mars connection is supportive of a win to the opposition. With so many connections from KAP to the election chart, one thing is for sure, this is not a party to be ignored. Bob Katter is very popular in Far North Queensland, and while not in a position to win government, his KAT party is capable of making a dent in the voting base of both parties and certainly capable of winning several seats. Whilst those further south may find him a source of amusement, in the north the Katter name carries quite a deal of respect.

Another newcomer that may throw the proverbial spanner into the works is Clive Palmer and his Palmer’s United Party (PUP). Unlike KAP, PUP does not have the same connections to the election chart but it does activate the opposition sector of the chart, indicating that it will draw votes from the Government. I believe that Palmer is well enough known that I don’t need to go into detail in this article. Astrologically, Palmer is an Aries with a Moon/Mars conjunction in Sag and half his chart in fire. He is self-driven and a self-made multi-millionaire, accumulating most of his wealth from mining and development. He is known for his huge ego and this quote from his own party website “In 2013 the United Australia Party was re-launched by party leader Professor Clive Frederick Palmer, a renowned Australian National Living Treasure & Philanthropist.”, is an example why. The PUP chart Moon is forming a difficult aspect to the Sun of the election chart and Venus is Sq Neptune, interestingly he puts his Neptune (confusion/deception) on Venus of the election chart. None of these aspects indicate any major change on the part of PUP but it can indicate interference for the main contenders. Neither his chart nor his party chart show him as a real challenger in this election but he is fielding candidates in just about every seat and that can mean a lot of votes being siphoned from the major parties. Preferences will make a big difference in this election.

On a personal note for the leaders of the main parties - Abbot is fielding an aspect from Pluto to his Progressed Sun (representing where he is now in life) which can indicate being elevated into positions of power. These same planets are also squaring his main angles, ascendant/descendant, indicating this is a time of major change in his life. He is undergoing a transformation, whether he likes it or not. He also has Progressed Mercury (communication) travelling backwards over Venus (women) in his birth chart, which could explain why he has so much trouble with ‘foot in mouth’ regarding females. His progressed Sun has also moved to Saturn and is heading to the Sun in the Australian political chart, which gives a strong connection now and over the coming years. Gwen Stoney’s chart for the swearing in of the first federal government, has proven to be the most accurate chart for Australian politics (1/1/1901, 1.35 pm Sydney). Another Sydney astrologer, Ed Tamplin, has done some very interesting research into Australia’s Prime Ministers and if Abbott does become PM, he will be going against most trends.

Rudd is also experiencing a connection by progression to the Australian political chart, with his progressed Venus connected to Australia’s Sun/Saturn, which is also fielding the conjunction of transiting Pluto (where it is in the heavens now). This is really the only aspect of note for K Rudd, but most of his activation has already happened, and explains his ongoing popularity after he was deposed as leader. This aspect to Australia’s Sun however, is a separating aspect, although still in orb, but separating aspects indicate the past, the moment has gone and his popularity will wane with it.

My interpretation of all the evidence is a victory to the conservatives, a loss of seats to Labor but not annihilation, Greens will fade to join the Democrats in history, Katter’s party to gain several seats and Palmer will run interference.

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In Australian astrology, electional charts are chosen with care so that the moment a poll opens carries the most favourable planetary signatures possible. Practitioners compare the rising sign, the position of the Moon, and the aspects between major planets to time campaigns, debates, and voting days. The aim is less about prediction than about weighing which window seems most supportive of orderly outcomes and clear public judgement, a craft that has been refined across decades of local practice and case study among Australian astrologers who track federal contests closely.

Ingress charts draw a boundary around each season and offer a snapshot of collective mood before any single event is timed. When the Sun enters Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn, astrologers note which houses those signs activate in a nation's horoscope, watching for tense aspects that can foreshadow political volatility. In Australian work these charts are studied alongside lunar phases and planetary stations to gauge the texture of an entire election period, providing a longer lens than any single day's chart could offer on its own.

Void of course Moon periods are a small but recurring concern for election timing, since decisions made while the Moon wanders unfocused are thought to lack staying power. Astrologers building an election calendar often shuffle campaign launches, leader debates, and major announcements to avoid these gaps. When a void window cannot be sidestepped, the event is still noted so its outcome can be reviewed later, building a quiet archive of how lunar drift coincides with political stumbles or surprises in the wider Australian cycle.

Retrograde cycles of Mercury, Venus, and Mars receive particular attention during election seasons because they are said to revisit, reconsider, or reopen matters thought to be settled. A Mercury retrograde during a campaign may correlate with muddled messaging, while a Mars retrograde can sap the usual punch from attack lines. Australian astrologers often publish simple tables showing station dates and shadow periods, allowing readers to overlay retrograde arcs onto their own reading of polling, policy announcements, and televised leader exchanges.

Behind the scenes of an astrology site devoted to Australian political and seasonal forecasting sits a steady rhythm of updating planetary tables, ingress diagrams, and lunar phase references. Once server issues are resolved the work becomes less about maintenance and more about interpretation, with articles exploring how transits line up against the national chart and how election timing choices echo through the broader story of the year, encouraging patient readers to follow the unfolding planetary weather.