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Seven respected astrologers agree: Obama will win it all

Rocky Mountain News

Published May 20, 2008 at 9 p.m.

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Astrologer Robert Blaschke prepares for a panel discussion on who might be elected next U.S. president.

Photo by Barry Guiterrez / The Rocky

Astrologer Robert Blaschke prepares for a panel discussion on who might be elected next U.S. president.

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When you're looking to the stars for some insight into presidential politics, it might not be a bad idea to assemble seven astrologers, respected in their field, outspoken in their opinions, and - maybe as important - not without some awareness of what is known in entertainment circles as schtick. Then ask them who's going to be the next president of the United States.

Which is probably what brought a pretty good crowd to the Denver Sheraton Hotel on Tuesday for the last panel discussion of the United Astrology Conference, a six-day lollapalooza of speeches, seminars and merchandise that drew 2,000 star-struck practitioners from 45 countries.

Hail to the Obama

Barack Obama's meteoric rise in national politics should continue unabated to the White House. Not only did a show of hands from the audience produce a staggering Obama plurality, every one of the panelists - Shelley Ackerman, Robert Blaschke, Robert Hand, Edith Hathaway, Hakan Kirkoglu, Sandra-Leigh Serio and Gloria Star - said the Illinois senator would win.

But hold on a minute

None of them actually predicted he would win. No, as panel moderator Ray Merriman stressed at the outset, the astrologers were making "forecasts, not predictions."

Heeeeere's Shelley!

New York City-born Shelley Ackerman has the personality of 10 women and the gravitational pull of Jupiter. She's a former cabaret entertainer, as well as commercial pitchwoman. Not that Ackerman doesn't know her astrology.

And although she predic . . . uh, forecast Obama, she also hedged, saying, "I just can't count Hillary out. She's a Scorpio; they're like the Energizer Bunny. They just keep going and going. Cut off her arm and she'll grow another one, I swear."

(Bad) void of course moon rising

Of concern to the panel - and many astrologists in the crowd - was the fact that the presidential inauguration will take place during a void of course moon. Simply put, that's an inauspicious time to start out, because as local astrologer Mary R. Jayn put it, "If you begin a new thing on a void of course moon, you don't get what you want. A lot of sound and fury, but it all ends up for naught."

Out, damned spot

Hand, one of the most respected astrologers at the convention, evoked images of Macbeth when he hinted at the dark possibility that George Bush - or his circle - might be disinclined to relinquish the throne.

"Call me paranoid," he said, "but I'm not sure there is anything of which the current administration is not capable."

Hand drew applause when he added, "I will be enormously relieved on January 20th, regardless of who is inaugurated, as long as someone is inaugurated."

A kinder, gentler chief executive?

Turkish astrologer Hakan Kirkoglu (try saying that fast three times) forecast that the "new president of America will be more tolerant and democrative" and "will give us more optimism for the future."

Hedging her bets

Although she forecast Obama, Ackerman quipped. "I'd like to get on board with this Obama drug and get high on it, but I can't completely toss away the McCain thing."

Sanskrit by any other name

For the civilian, it's no mean feat to translate the language of astrology. You doubt us? Well, then try these snippets: Jupiter-Saturn conjunction. Saturn-Neptune opposition. Progressed retrograde Mars. Mercury retrograde on the Midheaven. Ptolemaic aspect.

Comments

  • May 21, 2008

    7:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rockymountainnewsfan writes:

    Dattatreya Siva Baba, youtube guru and expert astrologer, made a number of predictions on YouTube over a year ago (April 2007) and they appear to be coming true:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBJ-PZ...
    title: Can Obama win?

  • May 24, 2008

    12:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    EnaStanley writes:

    I enjoyed your article on the astrological presidential predictions from UAC. It was well written; comprehensive, entertaining, thoughtful and thought provoking. It is evident, of course, that astrologers are not ignorant individuals, who practice an archaic superstition; many ligitimately put a PhD after their name.

    I appreciate and applaud that the story was written with the professionalism every story deserves. It renews my trust in the news media (in spite of the atrocities on Fox News).

    Ena Stanley, President
    Online College of Astrology