Creativity Meets Common Sense

We have a saying around Tarot.com headquarters: “You’re so much more than your Sun sign!” That means that in Astrology, your personality and even your path in life are determined by so much more than one factor. If you look at your birth chart, you’ll get a snapshot of what the universe looked like at the exact moment you were born! Planetary placements in the zodiac interact with your placement (meaning, where you were born) to determine your layered, one-of-a-kind identity!

What’s fascinating about birth charts is that they are applied not only to people, but also to companies, organizations – even countries! So as we celebrate Independence Day in the U.S., we can learn more about America’s true “self” using a few historical facts.

It’s generally accepted that the U.S. was “born” on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 5:10 p.m. Although the conception process was long and involved tremendous sacrifice, this was the moment when the Committee of Five signed the Declaration of Independence, representing Congress’s decision that the American colonies separate from Great Britain.

So without peaking, can you guess the U.S.’s sign (or, to be more specific, its Sun sign)? The U.S. was founded amid a lot of heady discussion and debate: the forefathers drew inspiration from some of the greatest minds in history, and many of our early statesmen (like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) could be considered philosophers themselves. Add to this the recurring theme of “freedom,” and you might guess that the U.S. is a … Sagittarius!

But wait! As America was struggling to become its own country, it embraced some pretty fringe ideas about government and democracy. And although it would be many years before all citizens were treated well, the U.S. had at its heart a strong belief in equality. As it attempted to cut itself off from mother country Great Britain, armed only with hope and ideals, America was politically isolated. So another safe guess would be that the U.S. is … an Aquarius?

Nope. As it turns out, America has its Sun in the deeply feeling sign of Cancer!

It might surprise you to learn the “land of the free” is a home-oriented Crab, but many of the values most prized in American culture are very Cancerian. Cancer requires a safe, stable home base, and this was one of the prime factors that drove our forefathers! And by necessity, the Crab is the sign that protects its soft inner core with a hardened shell: although this is a very family-focused sign, it is also a sign that is ready to protect itself – you could argue that this describes the U.S. at various points throughout its young history.

Meanwhile, Cancer is a Water sign — the element that represents emotions. At its heart, America is an extremely passionate nation. It was founded by a driven, idealistic few, and it continues to serve as an intense “melting pot” of cultures and influences.

But remember when I said that the U.S. had some stand-out Aquarian and Sagittarian flavors? There’s a reason for this! When astrologers look at your birth chart, they define not only your Sun placement, but your Moon and Rising’s as well. Your Moon is your emotional life: what drives you and what you need to feel secure. The Rising (or Ascendant) sign impacts how the rest of the world perceives you. Guess what? The U.S. has an Aquarius Moon with Sagittarius Rising!

Air sign Aquarius is represented by the symbol of the “Water-Bearer,” which represents the ideas-heavy nature of this exceptionally unusual sign. At its heart, Aquarius is passionate about two things: serving the greater good and making progress (specifically, technological progress). To feel secure, Aquarius needs to feel free to pursue (or defend) its own unconventional ideas. Consider a ground-breaking little document known as the Constitution, and you’ll see that the U.S. has an “Aquarian” emotional life! Also think back on the part America had to play in the Industrial Revolution, and the many scientific breakthroughs America’s scientists can boast.

Meanwhile, with Sagittarius representing our “outward appearance,” it’s no wonder that our Constitution or the speeches of our early presidents are often quoted around the world! The sign of the Archer keeps its gaze on the heavens, and it never stops asking spiritual and political questions. For better or for worse, America has often been a trendsetter in the political realm!

Sagittarius is also the sign that prizes wide open spaces, the ability to move about freely and … well … freedom itself. To the rest of the world, the U.S. is considered to be a very Sagittarian nation!

As you enjoy your own Independence Day, think about going deeper within and learning about the planetary forces that motivate you. Our Essential Birth Report can tell you volumes!

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm and is filed under Planets, Divination, Astrology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.