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Sotomayor’s Confirmation

Newly minted Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s August 6, 2009 confirmation came with the full plate of judiciary-related celestial markers that have been so much in evidence in her birth chart and the confirmation process.  Astonishingly, asteroids Justitia (#269) and Themis (#24), named for the Roman and Greek goddesses of Justice, respectively, are precisely conjoined in the sky at 14° Scorpio, with asteroid Sonja (#1293) right beside them at 15° Scorpio, all squared by the 14° Leo Sun!  You can’t get much plainer than that!

Additionally, several deep space factors add a galactic flavoring to the proceedings.  Asteroids Sonja and the two Justices are also conjunct a Pulsar at 15° Scorpio. A Pulsar is a rotating, pulsing stellar remnant that is informational in nature and often appears at newsworthy moments with strong media attention.   The Sun is exactly conjunct a Maser, a violent anomaly that spews jets of matter from its core, light years into space.  Astrologically, Masers often signal controversy; they also manifest as heightened energy, excitement, volatility, even violence.  Although the vote itself was now a foregone conclusion — Sotomayor easily passing by 68-31 — this galactic nod to controversy well reflects the genesis of her nomination, which was a period fraught with contention and conservative animus.

When that nomination was announced on May 26, 2009, asteroids Themis and Sonja were also conjoined, retrograde at 12° and 13° Scorpio, with Justitia, at 5° Scorpio retrograde, conjoined Sotomayor’s natal Saturn (representing her career) at 2° Scorpio, which  is conjunct natal Justitia in the same degree. (1) The divisiveness of the early nomination process was augured by a 21° Aries Eris, named for the Greek goddess of Strife and Discord, in a stellium with Venus (women) at 20° Aries and Mars (arguments, battles) at 26° Aries, all points prominently displayed at the 22° Aries Midheaven for the 10:15 a.m. EDT announcement time.

There’s another celestial body with a judiciary application which reverberates throughout Sotomayor’s life. This is Rhadamanthus, which like Eris, is a Trans-Neptunian Object, or TNO, a bit of icy rock debris in the Kuiper Belt region near Pluto.  Rhadamanthus is named for a king in Greek mythology who was so respected for his impartial, fair judgments and integrity that, after his demise, he was made a judge of the dead in Hades.  Sotomayor has Rhadamanthus natally at 10° Cancer, conjunct her 7° Cancer Jupiter, which rules the Supreme Court, and natal asteroid Sonja at 12° Cancer.  Her Sun at 3° Cancer and Mercury at 18° Cancer are also both broadly conjunct Rhadamanthus — or, more accurately, he falls within their orb of influence.

At both Sotomayor’s nomination and confirmation, transit Rhadamanthus appears at 15° Libra, exactly conjoined a Quasar, yet another type of deep space anomaly, this among the farthest and brightest objects in the universe.  As such, Quasar activation throws a spotlight on whatever it touches, and it aids us in attaining our highest aspirations; having a judge-related body conjoined a Quasar for this nomination process is typical of the types of high-profile events they promote.  This message from the outer solar system is also reflected in planet Jupiter’s current transit of another Quasar at 25° Aquarius.  Jupiter appears at 26° Aquarius for Obama’s announcement of Sotomayor’s nomination and at 23° Aquarius for her confirmation, while Sotomayor’s natal Jupiter closely conjoins the Quasar at 8° Cancer, with natal Rhadamanthus in exact square to yet another at 10° Aries and natal Saturn/Justitia within orb of a third at 4° Scorpio.  That’s a lot of success, achievement, and renown associated with a judicial career, so it’s not at all surprising that Sonia Sotomayor has made it to the top of her profession!

Notes;

(1) See previous blog: “On May 26, 2009 President Obama introduced his choice for Supreme Court Justice. Sonia Sotomayor was born on June 25, 1954 in New York City.”

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, author of  The Black Hole Book and The Urban Wicca, former editor of “The Galactic Calendar,” and past president of The Philadelphia Astrological Society.

His pioneering work with Black Holes in astrological interpretation began in 1991, when his progressed Sun unwittingly fell into one. Alex can be reached for comment or services at glaktix@verizon.net

1 Comment

  1. Fascinating article, Alex. I’m also very interested in the cosmic or galactic points…black holes, quasars, etc., and have seen some remarkable correlations over the years. I think you really nailed it here with Sotomayer’s confirmation. Hope to hear more from you in the future. Keep up the good work!

    Gregg


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