President Emeritus:
Christine Arens
Donald Trump's Birth Time Mystery
by Christine Arens
The REAL Donald Trump by Christine Arens
Last fall, before the Presidential elections, many – if not most – astrologers predicted Hillary Clinton would win. How could so many astrologers be wrong? The answer is simple: They were probably looking at the wrong chart for Donald Trump.
Allow me to explain. This story has evolved almost like a mystery-detective novel, and now spans input from astrologers living on three continents.
Background
Earlier this year I was asked by astrologer Donna Woodwell to join a panel of eclipse specialists to do a special program for the website AstrologyHub, in preparation for this summer’s August 21 ‘Great American Eclipse’. I was honored, and agreed to participate. Donna and I were joined by some exceptional astrologers, Christeen Skinner, Dr. Bernadette Brady, Adam Gainsburg, and AFA board member Dr. Benjamin Dykes. The initial interviews and introductions were done online in May. During this early part of the program some passing comments were made relating to the eclipse and the chart of President Donald Trump. All of these eminent astrologers (myself included) used charts with 29 Leo on the Ascendant, based on Trump’s birth certificate time of 10:54 am EDT.
Following this introductory session I was contacted by email by Radu Serban, who joined the group online from his home in Australia. In his possession is a copy of a little-known book written by astrologer Lynne Palmer, entitled “Gambling To Win” (AFA, 1994). She used Donald Trump’s chart throughout the book, but the chart she used gave a birth time of 9:51 am EDT, which gave her a chart with 17 Leo 34 on the Ascendant. The chart itself as reproduced in the book was prepared by Astro Numeric Services, which was a chart calculation service often used by astrologers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She apparently did not quote the source of this birth data, but did use this time.
Radu continued in his email that he had also attended a presentation by astrologer Alphee Lavoie, and that by rectification Alphee arrived at a birth time very close to what Lynne Palmer had used. At this program one of Alphee’s comments was very persuasive: Does Donald Trump demonstrate a 12th House Mars (chart with 29 Leo Ascendant), or a 1st House Mars (chart with 17 Leo Ascendant)? In addition, Radu said he had read a recent article in an astrological journal which also used the chart with the 17 Leo Ascendant, based on information from an interview with one of Donald Trump’s ex-wives.
His email to me was indeed persuasive, but it contradicted the ‘sterling’ AA Rodden Rating of the birth certificate. In response to his email, I provided him with a copy of this document.
The Friends of Astrology, Inc. Connection
For many years the Friends of Astrology has hosted a Summer Seminar, with the intention of bringing a “world-class” astrologer to Chicago for local astrologers who often are unable to attend national or international conferences. This year was no different, and through the sustained efforts of Vice President Joe Polise and President Omari Martin the astrologer Bill Meridian was invited to be the guest speaker. Since I am the past President of the organization, this is one event I always attend.
Bill’s presentation was two-part: the first part covered eclipses, and included some insight into the coming August 21 US eclipse; the second part was on using cycles to time events – and his expertise was/is on timing financial trading.
And there in that first part he touched on Donald Trump’s chart and the August 21 eclipse. To my amazement the chart Bill was using had 17 Leo 34 on the Ascendant – the exact same chart as used by Lynne Palmer! One of the Seminar participants asked him about that 17 Leo Ascendant, since it contradicted the generally-accepted chart with 29 Leo on the Ascendant. Bill’s response was simple and matter-of-fact… this was the time provided by Trump’s mother!
But that was not all Bill had to say on the chart! He added that among his contacts is an astrologer (unnamed) who had been consulted by Melania and one of the Trump daughters (also unnamed), and THIS is the chart (17 Leo 34 Ascendant) the Trumps themselves use!
The Astro-Databank Connection
In the week following the FOA Seminar, I received several questions about that 17 Leo Ascendant. My response was that I believed that to be the correct chart, even though I myself had been using the 29 Leo Ascendant chart up until that point. So I decided to do some ‘digging’.
Yes, in the online Astro-Databank Donald Trump’s chart did have the AA Rodden Rating, and a 29 Leo Ascendant. However, if you scroll all the way down to the end of the complete entry, a look at the “Source Notes” is revealing.
Yes, a copy of the birth certificate is available online. However, the next sentence in those “Source Notes” advises “caution”. Even though the document appears unaltered, it was apparently posted by Trump himself.
It may be that Trump wished to “prove” his US citizenship, especially since he firmly believed Barak Obama was not a US national. His objections to Obama were loud and long, and unfortunately misinformation repeated loud enough and long enough tends to become “believable”.
However, it may also be that Trump was aware that his true birth time and chart had already been publicly published, and this was a deliberate attempt at deception. He is, after all, a native Gemini, and duplicity is indeed a potential characteristic of this sign. And in these first few months that he has held office the world has been introduced to the concept of “alternative facts”.
The Software Connection
Like many astrologers I have used the astrological software program “Solar Fire” for many years. In the early releases of this program came with a set of what were called “Clifford” charts, which included notable individuals – royalty, politicians, musicians, artists, etc. Also included in these charts was Donald Trump, with the comments as follows:
From Trump’s mother (A)
Entrepreneur
A real estate developer, Trump’s flare for self-publicity and grandiose buildings made him a celebrity in the Eighties. He survived near-bankruptcy in 1990.
It would seem those early versions of Solar Fire were using Lynne Palmer’s birth chart and time.
In more recent versions of Solar Fire the original Clifford.cht file is included as the file Clif2000.cht file, but this has also been expanded to some additional files, notably Corporate, Entertainment, Infamous, etc. While the original entry for Trump’s chart is unchanged in the Clif2000.cht file, a second copy of Trump’s chart is now included in the corporate charts.
And this is where things get “interesting”…. And this depends of WHICH RELEASE of Solar Fire 9 you are currently using!
In the “earlier” releases of Solar Fire 9, the Trump entry under the corporate files reads:
From Birth Certificate (AA)
Donald John Trump
American Business Magnate, Author, TV Personality.
Donald John Trump, Sr. is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a US-based real-estate developer. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels across the world. Trump’s extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, and more recently with his NBC reality show, The Apprentice (where he serves as host and executive producer). Donald Trump is considered a possible candidate for President of the United States in 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_trump.
DATA SOURCE: Sy Scholfield © quotes a copy of the BC released by Trump to the media on 29 March 2011.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/03/donald-trump-releases-official-birth-certificate.html.
www.syscholfield.com
This is a reasonable entry, and directly gives information (and the source) for Trump’s birth certificate. It is also a fitting description of the larger-than-life individual he had become in the early 2000s. THIS IS THE ENTRY IN SOLAR FIRE 9.0.13. It must also be noted that the Wikipedia entry has now changed (and been lengthened) to reflect Trump’s election to President. The blog reference is indeed interesting, and provides a link to Trump’s “Certificate of Live Birth” issued by the hospital. A copy of Trump’s formal birth certificate can be found here:
https://skywriter.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/see-donald-trump%E2%80%99s-official-birth-certificate-and-chart/
HOWEVER, in later versions of Solar Fire, THE COMMENTS ON DONALD TRUMP HAVE BEEN REVISED! In the past several days I have tried to contact astrologers who use different software, as well as different versions of Solar Fire. Many (if not most) software programs include a set of ‘celebrity’ charts, and it appears the reference for Trump is now to the AA Rodden Rating birth certificate time.
BUT these later revisions to Solar Fire 9 now read:
From Trump's mother (A)
Donald Trump
Entrepreneur
A real estate developer, Trump's flare for self-publicity and grandiose buildings made him a celebrity in the Eighties. He survived near-bankruptcy in 1990. The late 1990s saw a resurgence in his financial situation and fame. He remains a major figure in the field of casino/hotels in the United States and a current celebrity for his prominent role on American television reality show The Apprentice.
From the Clifford Chart Compendium compiled by Frank C Clifford.
While I am not sure exactly when this was changed, this is the entry as it reads for Solar Fire 9.0.25. My version is 9.0.26, and is identical. So somewhere between Solar Fire 9.0.13 and 9.0.25 this was CHANGED.
The TRUE Time of Birth
The timing of the “first breath” is what an astrologer wants in preparing a natal chart. However, this true time is often elusive. While more recent births tend to be more accurate, there can still be conflicting information on the birth certificate – the recorded time of birth vs. the “first breath”. The paperwork is usually the last thing the doctor will deal with, and often that recorded time varies from that “first breath”.
But that is not the only issue that can be involved. My late husband Norman actually had a client with a birth certificate where the recorded time was pm. But the chart didn’t “work”. He finally asked the client directly: Could it be that your time is am and not pm? At that point the client’s husband (who was present) interjected that was what her mother had always said! The birth certificate was WRONG!
In my 40+ years of chart work I too have seen a number of charts where the recorded time is not correct. In each instance the true time (where the chart “worked”) was EARLIER than the recorded time. This is most likely to be the case where there are complications in the delivery process, and as stated earlier, the paperwork is the last thing the doctor will deal with.
Then we also have the issue of Daylight Saving Time. In the November issue of the AFA Bulletin (“Today’s Astrologer”) I wrote an article on twins born the night DST ended. The older twin was born before the clocks were set back, while the younger twin was born after clocks had been reset. However, on paper it appears the younger twin is actually older!
CONCLUSION
We as astrologers should be using the chart with the Ascendant of 17 Leo 34 as the correct chart for Donald Trump.
This is based (from all of the above) on:
1) The originally published chart by astrologer Lynne Palmer (1994).
2) The compelling question posed by astrologer Alphee Lavoie.
3) The off-hand comments made by astrologer Bill Meridian.
4) The Astro-Databank “Source Notes” for Trump’s chart.
5) The ‘flip-flop’ in the data source/comments in Solar Fire.
6) Trump’s own penchant for misleading and misdirected information.
Up until now astrologers (myself included) focused on the August 21 Total Solar Eclipse and how it relates to Trump’s chart. We should, perhaps, all be more focused on the August 7 Partial Lunar Eclipse.
The Astrology News Service, a few articles you may want to read.
2018 UNITED ASTROLOGY CONFERENCE 2018 MAY 24-29, 2018, CHICAGO
Celebrating Earth and Sky
Be part of the world’s largest gathering of astrologers!
Our very own Christine Arens will present at UAC 2018 !
Celebrating Earth and Sky
Be part of the world’s largest gathering of astrologers!
Our very own Christine Arens will present at UAC 2018 !
- Friday May 25, 2018 11:00am - 12:15pm How to work with the Moon
- Tuesday May 29, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am The Star of Bethlehem
Christine Arens retired from Kepler College
She taught these important courses at Kepler College
Chart Calculation M101 Level 1
This course was designed to give you guided practice in learning how to calculate a natal chart from any time zone. it met on Sunday Evenings at 4:00 pm Pacific / 7:00 pm Eastern time
Chart Calculation M102 Level 2
This course was designed for students intending to take the organizational exams. (calculation techniques, including adjusted calculation date, progressions, directions and solar returns).
Meeting time: Sunday 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time
We are grateful for her numerous contributions to the Astrological Community.
An update from Christine Arens !
I was fortunate enough to attend all 3 days of this conference.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Conference: Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
https://divinity.uchicago.edu/characterizing-astrology-medieval-islamic-world
The above link will take you to the University of Chicago Media website.
The major presenters were videotaped, and those videos are now available for viewing.
It is recommended you download the pdf of the abstracts, and choose which subject(s) would interest you most. However, ALL of the presentations were excellent, and considered Astrology as a legitimate field of study, and worthy of (further) research.
While it is regrettable the quality of the sound on some of the videos leaves ‘something to be desired’, it would be recommended you try using earphones or a headset to help clarify what the speaker is presenting. Overall, the conference gave a remarkable overview of how traditional astrology was practiced and used, and ‘then’ was really not much different from ‘now’.
Christine
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Conference: Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
https://divinity.uchicago.edu/characterizing-astrology-medieval-islamic-world
The above link will take you to the University of Chicago Media website.
The major presenters were videotaped, and those videos are now available for viewing.
It is recommended you download the pdf of the abstracts, and choose which subject(s) would interest you most. However, ALL of the presentations were excellent, and considered Astrology as a legitimate field of study, and worthy of (further) research.
While it is regrettable the quality of the sound on some of the videos leaves ‘something to be desired’, it would be recommended you try using earphones or a headset to help clarify what the speaker is presenting. Overall, the conference gave a remarkable overview of how traditional astrology was practiced and used, and ‘then’ was really not much different from ‘now’.
Christine
Summary
University of Chicago Conference – May 12-14, 2015
Hosted by the UofC School of Divinity
Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
This past May, the University of Chicago hosted an extraordinary conference to discuss the perceptions and use of Astrology in medieval Islamic cultures. The presenters represented a broad base of major universities and disciplines from across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East. The focus of the conference was the metaphysical use of astrology, and truly represented the perception of “as above, so below”. Astrology was considered in the context of its power, and as a means of helping people to live a good religious life by the use of judicial astrology knowing when to choose, and how to choose “right” actions.
The variety of subjects was meant to bring together various studies and present how Astrology was a tie uniting them. One presenter discussed how the power of the heavens could be interpreted and used to create magical instruments such as Talismans through the careful placements of symbols, letters and numbers. Of course these Talismans would need to be created at “auspicious” times, based on proper Astrology (such as the Moon and Jupiter in Cancer – Moon in domicile, and Jupiter in exaltation!), and proper astrological materials (copper ruled by Venus, and tin ruled by Jupiter!).
Another presenter discussed the development and use of astrolabes, including a picture of a woodcut showing a curious astrolabe ring. While an astrolabe so small would really not be very accurate, it could of course advertise that its wearer WAS an astrologer! Astrology and astronomy were linked together as the “study of the stars”, two sister studies with the intention of measuring the stars and planets and their movements, and then using that information for the more significant purpose of understanding God’s cosmic universe and order. Yes, Astrology was indeed the “superior” sister – without Astrology, astronomy has no purpose!
One presenter pointed out that Astrology does not intervene with free will and free choice, that it is a tool to help one live a better life. It is not to be used to evade God’s will or your personal responsibilities. However, choices are often limited – we cannot choose “not to die”. Interspersed amongst all the presentations were references to the works of al-Kindi, al-Biruni and Abu Ma’shar. Particularly noted was Abu Ma’shar’s significant defense of Astrology.
The opening of the conference referred to Astrology as the “Mistress of all the sciences”. The conference itself did indeed uphold this description! To live without Astrology is to go through life with our eyes closed. There IS a place for Astrology in God’s cosmic order!
Hosted by the UofC School of Divinity
Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
This past May, the University of Chicago hosted an extraordinary conference to discuss the perceptions and use of Astrology in medieval Islamic cultures. The presenters represented a broad base of major universities and disciplines from across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East. The focus of the conference was the metaphysical use of astrology, and truly represented the perception of “as above, so below”. Astrology was considered in the context of its power, and as a means of helping people to live a good religious life by the use of judicial astrology knowing when to choose, and how to choose “right” actions.
The variety of subjects was meant to bring together various studies and present how Astrology was a tie uniting them. One presenter discussed how the power of the heavens could be interpreted and used to create magical instruments such as Talismans through the careful placements of symbols, letters and numbers. Of course these Talismans would need to be created at “auspicious” times, based on proper Astrology (such as the Moon and Jupiter in Cancer – Moon in domicile, and Jupiter in exaltation!), and proper astrological materials (copper ruled by Venus, and tin ruled by Jupiter!).
Another presenter discussed the development and use of astrolabes, including a picture of a woodcut showing a curious astrolabe ring. While an astrolabe so small would really not be very accurate, it could of course advertise that its wearer WAS an astrologer! Astrology and astronomy were linked together as the “study of the stars”, two sister studies with the intention of measuring the stars and planets and their movements, and then using that information for the more significant purpose of understanding God’s cosmic universe and order. Yes, Astrology was indeed the “superior” sister – without Astrology, astronomy has no purpose!
One presenter pointed out that Astrology does not intervene with free will and free choice, that it is a tool to help one live a better life. It is not to be used to evade God’s will or your personal responsibilities. However, choices are often limited – we cannot choose “not to die”. Interspersed amongst all the presentations were references to the works of al-Kindi, al-Biruni and Abu Ma’shar. Particularly noted was Abu Ma’shar’s significant defense of Astrology.
The opening of the conference referred to Astrology as the “Mistress of all the sciences”. The conference itself did indeed uphold this description! To live without Astrology is to go through life with our eyes closed. There IS a place for Astrology in God’s cosmic order!
