Hillary Clinton is all over the news lately as the most recognized Presidential candidate. A recent CNN/Gallup poll shows that 39% of Democrats polled said they would vote for Clinton in 2008, as opposed to 15% for John Kerry, 13% for Al Gore and 12% for John Edwards. These numbers have been consistent over the past year, and Hillary is looking like a front-runner for the Democrats. Will she run, and if she runs, will she win? Let’s take a look at her chart. Note to astrologers: Hillary has given her birth time as 8:00 pm, and most published birthcharts show her with 29 deg. Gemini on the ascendant. It seems clear to me that Cancer is a more appropriate ascendant for Hillary – she is extremely family-oriented and can appear cold as many Cancer ascendant people do. Additionally, she has the moon face and low center of gravity also associated with Cancer rising. Consequently, I’ve used 8:15 pm as a birthtime which should be taken with a grain of salt, since her exact birthtime is not available. This of course also means that the midheaven is likely off as well.

Since her appearance on the national political stage, there was no doubting the power of Hillary Clinton. Hillary had been an overachiever from an early age: in high school she served as class president, student council and debating team member, and member of the National Honor Society. As a Republican, she worked actively for the campaign of Barry Goldwater at the age of 16 and went on to become President of the Wellesley chapter of College Republicans. Moved by the death of Martin Luther King her political views became more liberal and she joined the Democratic party. Valedictorian of her class, she graduated with honors in political science and became the first student in the history of Wellesley College to deliver the commencement address at her own graduation.

Hillary went on to obtain a law degree from Yale with a specialization in children’s rights (another earmark for the Cancer ascendant which is focused on the family and nurturing). After marrying Bill Clinton and as the first female lawyer at the Rose Law firm, Hillary continued her child advocacy work on a pro bono basis.

Hillary Clinton’s birthchart shows a strong personality: She has four planets in intense Scorpio, including her Sun, Chiron, Venus and Mercury. Scorpio is an intensely emotional sign that imposes a passion on everything the individual does or feels. Scorpios are never superficial or dilletantes – they bury themselves in virtually everything they encounter. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the god of the underworld, death and transformation, and Scorpios have no fear of the underworld of the emotional realm. Hillary’s Sun makes no aspect to any other planet, showing an individual who can find it difficult to make real connections with others. On the other hand, this can make it easier for one’s light (Sun) to shine without the need for support from others.

Chiron (wounded healer) is conjunct Venus in Hillary’s chart, linking the painful wounds of Chiron to the ability to relate to others and attract relationships that Venus represents. Chiron in tandem with Venus indicates an early psychic wounding in her sense of attractiveness and desirability and a tendency to continue to attract experiences that mirror this until the wound enters the conscious arena and can be healed. Certainly we can see this in her relationship with Bill Clinton as it has played out on the public stage. However, Jupiter in Hillary’s chart is in Sagittarius, indicating a general faith and optimism (Sagittarius) that is the basis of her world view (Jupiter).

Mercury (communication) is retrograde in Hillary’s chart and it is squared by Saturn, showing a difficulty (Saturn) in expressing herself (Mercury) in a way that is clear and understood by others. Mercury retrograde people tend to process information in a way that is more internalized than the general population, and often find themselves misunderstood. This has been a problem for her on the political stage, and requires a great deal of planning and preparation before making public speeches.

Hillary has a powerhouse conjunction of Mars, Pluto and Saturn all in Leo, and possibly (if the birthtime is close) in the third house of communication. This helps her to overcome the difficulties inherent in the retrograde Mercury, and harnesses the power of Mars (warrior energy), Pluto (transformation and personal power) and Saturn (discipline and hard work). And all in the sign of Leo, the sign that celebrates life and requires admiration in order to survive. Leo is the sign of nobility and royalty, and a concentration in this sign often brings about a desire to gain recognition for one’s essential being – not, as with Capricorn, for one’s achievements. It’s no wonder Hillary has been an overachiever all of her life!

So what’s coming up for Mrs. Clinton? Later this year she will go through her second Saturn return – a time around age 60 when Saturn returns to it’s place in our birthchart. The first Saturn return occurs around age 28-30, and marks the period where we leave childhood and transition into adulthood. The second Saturn return historically marked the exit from working life into retirement and seniority, although with cultural changes that is less true. Today the second Saturn return causes us to challenge the life we have built for ourselves and question whether there is really meaning in our life. Often the second Saturn return brings a sense of tragedy if we feel we have wasted our life. Saturn is the reality checker, and our success in this transit depends on how well we have done our work. Because Hillary’s Saturn is square her Mercury, the Saturn return will challenge her mental functioning as well, and the period from September ’06 through July of ’07 could be difficult for her. It could also bring great success if she stays focused on her goals, as she typically does so well.

2007 will also bring a square of transiting Chiron to Chiron in Hillary’s chart, a transit that can bring great healing or great pain. Occasionally we see illness during these periods if the inner difficulties are not successfully managed. At the same time, though, expansive Jupiter will be bringing opportunities and opening doorways that could make this an exhilarating time of transformation for her.

Astrologers will be keeping an eye on Hillary as the months roll on toward the election. Regardless of what she decides, she will be someone to watch.