Tag Archives: transits to natal Venus

Splitting After 40 Years:The Synastry of Al and Tipper Gore

Al and Tipper Gore at the inaugural ceremonies in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009. Photo by Susan Walsh for The Associated Press.

Al Gore, former vice president of the United States, and his wife, Tipper, announced today that they are separating after 40 years of marriage. Why now?

First of all, we have to commend anyone who can make a marriage last for 40 years. That is a miracle in today’s disposable world, and there is no way we can call this marriage anything but successful. We can imagine that a lot of hard work and perseverance went into their relationship. Of course, they were preoccupied with a lot of external pressures, and that does tend to take the focus off the problems in a marriage.

According to media reports, the decision was mutual. The ostensible reason is that the couple “grew apart.” After looking at their synastry chart, I am taking their statement at face value.

Synastry, for those not familiar with the term, is the astrological technique of comparing the positions of the planets and houses in one person’s chart with those of the other person. The first thing I look for is a favorable aspect between Sun and Moon. Equally important, I look for evidence of a strong sexual connection. Although sex isn’t everything, especially as we advance in age, physical “chemistry” is a powerful bond and can act as a motivator to encourage couples to work through problems instead of calling it quits.

Traditionally, astrologers consider it best for the woman’s Moon to be favorably aspected to the man’s Sun, although nowadays the reverse is viewed positively as well, especially for power couples such as Al and Tipper. Her Moon at 21 degrees Aquarius makes a very wide sextile to his Sun at 10 degrees Aries, perhaps enough to cement a friendship. Al’s Moon at 3 degrees Capricorn makes a wide, out-of-sign trine with Tipper’s Sun at 26 degrees Leo. This is a little better. Still, I’d say that these two indicators are more of an easy friendship than anything else.

Al and Tipper never had the classic markers for sexual chemistry. The strongest link is an opposition between her Moon at 21 degrees Aquarius and his Mars at 18 degrees Leo. This suggests that sexual attraction may have been based on an emotional dependency. We might guess that an adult woman has worked through these issues and healed the underlying wound, which then dissolves the bond.

They do, however, have very strong aspects for longevity, primarily the tight trine between his Jupiter at 28 degrees Sagittarius and her Sun-Saturn conjunction at 26 degrees Leo. His early Cap Moon also plays into this connection. Their synastry suggests that the strongest glue in their relationship was working together toward mutual interests, which we can guess probably related to their (especially his) political and professional aspirations. There’s nothing wrong with this arrangement, in my book, as long as both parties agree to it … and they apparently did.

With all of that in mind, it’s logical that they would separate now that their “work” together apparently is complete. It is time for them to keep growing in other ways.

Looking at transits, the cardinal T-square with Pluto at the apex is making tight contact with Al’s natal Moon. Pluto conjunct the Moon often signifies the end of a committed relationship, and we can feel totally changed inside emotionally after this transit is done (see my Ask Real Astrologers post on this disturbing transit.) In short, he’s growing and transforming, and it’s no surprise that he’s moving in a different direction from his wife of 40 years, especially when you throw the Saturn-Uranus opposition into the mix.

Of no less importance, the current series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer is taking place in Tipper’s seventh house of committed relationships and first house of self. This is often when committed relationships begin or end.

Also, the cardinal T-square is occurring in a wide square to Tipper’s Ascendant and her natal Venus at 11 degrees Cancer. This suggests a change in a committed relationship. I’m guessing that she is going to feel liberated and will launch into a new professional venture from which she will gain not only material rewards but some public acclaim.

After looking at their charts, I think they’ve made a sound decision, and for that they should be commended as well. Even when you do everything “right,” sometimes a relationship has to end. When it has reached its logical conclusion and outlived its purpose, letting go is the best and wisest choice.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: Transits to a T-Square

This week’s question comes from Salome, presumably somewhere in Ohio.**

My question is in regards to transiting planets that conjunct planets that are in a T-square. I currently have Chiron and Neptune on my natal Venus and will have Jupiter hovering over it in the immediate future. My natal Venus afflicted as it is in a fixed T-square involving the Moon & Pluto. How possibly could the transiting planets manifest? Would I be able to somehow heal (Chiron) my love life (absolutely dreadful), but face myself with delusions (Neptune) along the way? Would the upcoming Jupiter conjunction exasperate my T-square, making them more pronounced?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Salome, you have more questions than we have space to answer in this format so we’ll respond to only a couple of them here. I will take a crack at your fixed T-square with Venus, the Moon, and Pluto.

An important factor to keep in mind with any T-square is that the opposition is always in complementary signs and elements. In your case, you have an earthy Moon opposing Pluto in water with both of them square your airy Venus. In other words, it is your Venus in detached, quirky Aquarius battling it out with a Moon-Pluto opposition that is quite happy with keeping things the same day after day.

Neptune and Chiron are pulling away from your Venus at this time, giving you a break from the confusion and discomfort, but Jupiter is closing in and will exactly conjoin it the first part of May. Don’t be surprised if you feel the need to express your uniqueness in some way during this period. Keep in mind you also have your Sun in Aquarius, and the desire to stand out from the crowd is part of who you are.

When Jupiter was triggering the Moon-Pluto opposition the second week in April, did you notice you were moodier than usual? Female friends and relatives may have been particularly annoying, too. Jupiter encourages us to dream big and set our goals high, as well as to see the humorous side of life. But he can blow things out of proportion, too.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about your chart and yourself, Salome. The fact you are questioning and studying says a lot about who you are in the process of becoming.

Good fortune on your journey!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Salome, I don’t have much to add to Neith’s analysis, but I will address your general concern about predicting events when there are so many variables involved.

When we have a T-square in the chart, regardless of its character (cardinal, fixed, or mutable), the planet at the apex of the triangle takes most of the heat, so to speak. So when that planet is activated by transit, we can expect significant events to crop up in our lives. The nature of these events depends, of course, on the sign, house placement, and transiting planets, and on other planets involved in the T-square.

That’s already a lot of pieces of the puzzle to put together, and as you rightly note, your Venus is being activated by Neptune, Chiron, and Jupiter all at once. As if that weren’t enough, transiting Neptune and Uranus are in mutual reception, with Uranus crossing your Descendant. I think it’s fair to say that relationship issues are going to come to the fore, but predicting the various ways this might come to pass would require an in-depth, thorough analysis by a skilled astrologer, and that is beyond the scope of this column. And even if this were a private consultation, I would caution the client that planetary energies can manifest in many different ways. The more planets and transits are involved, the more possibilities there are. Our own will and willingness to work plays a role, too.

As Neith noted, you obviously are willing to look at these things, and that is one of the biggest factors working in your favor.

Thanks for writing.

**We took this question without a location, but please include your current location in your e-mail to us, and remember to spell out the month. The reason for the latter is that some countries put the day first, and we’ve had to re-do questions after finding out that we misread the data.

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