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| Condoleezza Rice |
What She Projects Isn't What Is Really Happening With Her: Highly Emotional (Yes, Despite Her Public Image)
I was quite surprised to see that 7 out of Dr. Rice’s 10 planets (plus her Midheaven/career cusp) are in Water signs! Boy, that's a lot of emotion! I expected to see a very Airy chart, which would mean that she primarily operates off her intellect. While her intellect is in the picture (two planets plus her Ascendant are in Air signs), Dr. Rice primarily operates off her emotions.
Despite her cool Aquarius Ascendant exterior (her Ascendant represents the "face" that she presents to the world), her Scorpio Sun/Cancer Moon combination — Scorpio and Cancer are both Water signs — guarantees that Dr. Rice is highly emotional at her core. Dr. Rice definitely has a lot of mood swings, especially given her moody Cancer Moon (the Moon represents emotions).
While I didn't believe it at the time (figuring that they were misogynists exaggerating the issue against a woman whom they didn't like to score political points), former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were surely correct about Condoleezza Rice's behind-the-scenes tendency to cry at the drop of a dime. Dr. Rice denied the claim ("it certainly doesn't sound like me, now, does it?", thus playing to her Aquarius Ascendant public face), Cheney and Rumsfeld may have even understated the case.
Personal Challenge: Ultra-Sensitive To The Moods Of The People Around Her, Which Can Lead To Depression Her Cancer Moon makes Dr. Rice highly sensitive to the moods of people around her, so much so that she often takes their emotions on as her own. Consider the fact that seven of her 10 planets lie in the Western Hemisphere (the right side of her natal chart, past the dark black axis), which means that Dr. Rice tends to put others' interests ahead of her own. Thus, taking on others' emotions is even more of a burden for her. Add that she has a humanitarian-oriented Aquarius Ascendant, and things can get quite depressing for Dr. Rice.
It is very important that Dr. Rice works hard to ensure that her surrounding environment is as pleasant as possible.
Political Views Are Tempered By Moderation
Conservative-minded Saturn is in her House of Philosophy (9th House), and thus gives Dr. Rice a conservative streak. Yet the fact that balance-seeking Libra rules her House of Philosophy cusp means that her political views will always be tempered by moderation. Thus, why she is a moderate-conservative. Extreme views go against her very essence. Strong conservatives who hope that she will become rightist (or strong liberals who hope that she will become leftist) will continue to wait.
Born To Be A PioneerMars in the 1st House (the House of Self) gives Dr. Rice a quick wit and strong work ethic. Mars represents action, and thus action forms a key part of Dr. Rice’s self-identity.
Dr. Rice also has six planets (plus her Ascendant and Midheaven) in Fixed signs. Thus, she is a very determined individual (this configuration means that she is very stubborn as well).
With her Mars in Aquarius (a pioneering sign) and residing in the 1st House, it’s no surprise that her actions have led to various career firsts: Stanford University’s first black provost, first black female to be USA’s National Security Adviser, the first black female to be U.S. Secretary of State, and recently one of the first two women invited to join Augusta National Golf Club.
Personal Challenge: Has An Obsessive Desire To Prove Her Self-Worth To Herself Dr. Rice’s Sun (core being) has a couple of stressful aspects, including squaring her Pluto. This means that Dr. Rice tends to be very dissatisfied with her personal accomplishments, no matter how much she accomplishes!
This is further backed up by Dr. Rice’s Saturn in Scorpio, located in the House of Philosophy (9th House). Saturn represents delay and limitation. Saturn in Scorpio individuals tend to feel inadequate and try to compensate in other arenas. Dr. Rice compensates for this inadequacy with her career, as her Saturn makes placements to her work-ethic-related 6th House and her career-related 10th House.
In addition, Dr. Rice’s Chiron (which represents wounded healing) is in ambitious-minded Capricorn, in the public-institution-oriented 12th House to boot. Chiron in Capricorn types have an obsessive need to prove their self-worth through their career.
With her 1st House Mars (action) squaring her 9th House Saturn (ambition), perfectionism is central to Dr. Rice’s philosophical mindset (9th House) and her self-identity (1st House). While this is a good aspect for her career, she tends to be quite hard on herself and others. Dr. Rice has zero planets in Mutable signs, so change is very difficult for her (and thus her perfectionism trait won't end anytime soon).
Dr. Rice’s intense desire for privacy can be explained by the very strong Scorpionic influence throughout her natal chart. Three of her five personal astrological planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus...which respectively symbolize her core being, thoughts, and affection) lie in secrecy-minded Scorpio. In addition, her Scorpio Sun squares (tension) her Pluto (change) in Leo. Sun-Pluto square types in particular have an intense need for privacy.
A "Mama Condi" Side
Dr. Rice has 7 planets in the Western Hemisphere (which is the right half of the chart, beyond the MC-IC axis). Thus, she is more concerned about others’ interests than her self-interest. With her Moon in Cancer, Dr. Rice has a very strong emotional need to nurture the people who are close to her. Given that her Cancer Moon is in the 6th House (House of Health, which includes one’s work environment), her nurturing side probably comes out the most for her favorite co-workers / colleagues. Nurturing co-workers is further backed up by her Jupiter in Cancer placement in the 6th House, meaning she may even privately financially help out co-workers. However, this placement also means that she is susceptible to "smother love" the people close to her.
Recurring Life Theme: Born To Be Involved In Higher Education Dr. Rice's chart has a lot of powerful, positive aspects going to her Midheaven (MC), or career cusp, so she was meant to be prominent.
One of the recurring themes in Dr. Rice’s natal chart is a love for and involvement with higher education. It is the biggest life theme in her natal chart. Dr. Rice has a concentration of planets in the House of Philosophy (9th House). This house rules philosophy, higher education, diplomacy, law, travel, sports, and religion. This planet-packed house is what gives Dr. Rice her high intellect (she began college at age 15) and dedication to education (she has a PhD, and has a background as a political science professor).
Dr. Rice’s 2nd House cusp ruler (Neptune) is also in the 9th House. Since the 2nd House is the House of Value, this is a strong placement that Dr. Rice would earn her money off intellectual-related 9th House matters. Indeed, Dr. Rice started her career as a Stanford University political science professor, later became Stanford’s provost, and returned to teach at Stanford after her tenure ended with the Bush administration. This placement means that Dr. Rice also places great non-monetary value on a higher education. She has also been America's top diplomat as U.S. Secretary of State, and the 9th House rules diplomacy and travel.
With her 9th House cusp ruler (Venus) in the career-oriented House of Social Status (10th House), Dr. Rice’s career was “destined” to be related to the 9th House: diplomacy, teaching, traveling, publishing, law, religion, or sports. This can be shown by Dr. Rice’s career as a political science professor (teaching), her diplomatic career (traveling), and the books – including two best-sellers – that she has written (writing). She also once aspired to be the NFL commissioner (sports).
Recurring Life Theme: Born For A Famous Career In Politics Another recurring theme in Dr. Rice’s natal chart is politics. Dr. Rice’s Midheaven (career cusp) is ruled by power-oriented Scorpio. The planet that rules Scorpio is Pluto (change). Both her Sun (core being) and Venus (affection) are in Scorpio, and located in the House of career-oriented Social Status (10th House). Sun in Scorpio in the 10th House usually means a person who is involved in politics.
Her Sun and Venus conjunct each other (conjunctions are the most powerful astrological connections), and both conjunct her Midheaven. Thus, Dr. Rice was “destined” to be a leader in her chosen career, and become famous in the process. Venus conjunct Midheaven means that Dr. Rice likes refinement in her career (many diplomats have this aspect in their natal charts). With her 9th House cusp ruler (Venus) in the 10th House, the career house, her career was meant to be intellectually-oriented in nature.
Government authority is a 10th House matter, so these placements were bound to strongly gravitate Dr. Rice towards a politically-oriented career. This is not a chart for an elite pianist or ice skater, which were Dr. Rice’s original career aspirations. Dr. Rice’s natal chart is very heavy on loving power. With justice-oriented Libra ruling her House of Philosophy / 9th House and making a house rulership to her career-oriented 10th House, diplomacy & foreign policy was always in her “destiny”. With a stacked House of Health (6th House, which is also a public service house) making aspects to her career-oriented 10th House, Dr. Rice's role in politics would take more of a public service (as opposed to electoral politics) role.
With such a heavy Scorpionic influence throughout her chart, Dr. Rice knows how to keep a secret….which was good for her career as National Security Adviser.
A Very Difficult Personality To Deal With In Romance: Argumentative, Power Struggles Around Her Ego, Her Career Comes First Dr. Rice was born when Venus was retrograde, which by itself is rough on a person’s love life. However, it can be overcome if other aspects in the chart are good. Unfortunately for Dr. Rice, they aren’t good. Her Venus (symbolizing women) square Mars (symbolizing men) placement means that Dr. Rice has likely never had a shortage male attention. However, this square (which represents tension) also indicates that she’s temperamental in romantic situations. This assessment is backed up by her Venus square Pluto aspect, which also strongly suggests that she’s argumentative in romance. With her Venus in Scorpio, she is disinclined to have casual flings. Thus, her spinster status is mainly due to people’s unwillingness to tolerate her argumentative personality.
With Pluto (change) in her House of Partnerships (7th House, which rules romantic relationships), power struggles are dominant in Dr. Rice’s romantic relationships. With her Pluto in ego-oriented Leo, these struggles revolve around her ego.
However, that’s not all. Her 7th House cusp ruler (Sun) is in the House of Social Status (10th House, which rules the career). This placement means that Dr. Rice puts her career goals ahead of her personal relationships. People who date Dr. Rice will just have to deal with the fact that they will likely always play second fiddle to her career.
Homosexual Or Asexual? Her Chart Says Neither OneI know some of you are thinking it, so I’ll address it. Are there any indicators in Dr. Rice’s chart which point to non-heterosexuality or asexuality? Dr. Rice has Venus in Scorpio (albeit in retrograde status, which means that her love life will be a struggle). Thus, she is very intense in romance.
Her chart shows a troubled romantic life with men (Venus square Mars) despite having no shortage of male attention coming her way (which Venus-Mars squares get), but nevertheless a strong attraction to men. There are no indicators (such as unconventional aspects to her Venus) in her chart that point to homosexuality. Nor is her Venus in affliction with Chiron (which symbolizes wounded healing), which would indicate gender-related sexual challenges leading to homosexuality or asexuality.
Dr. Rice’s chart shows that she is a sexual being, and heterosexual or at most bisexual. I only see one indicator that potentially points to bisexuality (and one indicator is not enough to say that it's a conclusive personality trait): Dr. Rice's House of Pleasure (5th House) cusp is ruled by Gemini. That sign's symbol is twins, which means dealing with two forces. However, her Venus aspects neither that house nor her 9th House Mercury (Mercury's natural ruler is Gemini).
Life "Destiny": Developing A Sense Of Group Identity & Social Responsibility Dr. Rice’s True Node (which represents her life’s “destiny”) is located in the House of Friendships (11th House). This house rules friendships, organizations, and social causes. DepthAstrology2 says about a True Node in the 11th House placement: “At least initially in life, you may have a tendency to avoid groups and/or matters of social responsibility, as you hesitate to confront your destiny lesson. Ultimately, if you are to be successful in actualizing your life's potential, you must come to terms with your need for group and social involvement. The unfolding of your destiny is most likely to occur within the context of group life or social involvement. Joining a particular group, organization or cause may seem to have a certain fated quality. You are also likely to be confronted with contradictory drives for commitment to a group or society, on the one hand, and developing your own individual identity, on the other hand. Part of your destiny lesson, then, may be to resolve the apparent paradoxes between group-identity and self-identity.”
