Born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, CA, Kamala Harris’ Libra Sun fits with her Sphinxlike public persona—but a deeper look into her birth chart reveals she’s chock full of fascinating surprises.

Ironically, despite the vast differences in their public personas and obvious clash on political policies, there are a few striking similarities between Kamala’s chart and Donald Trump’s: both have Fire sign Moons; both have Mars in Leo (another Fire sign); and both are intellectual, quick-witted Air signs who excel at the art of debate.

One key difference between Trump’s astrology and Kamala’s is their respective relationship to being in the spotlight. Though neither is afraid of the limelight, Trump can’t exist without attention, putting much of his campaigning efforts over the years into amassing a Taylor Swift-esque army of loyal followers via constant social media posts and other such calls-to-action on his behalf, Kamala is far subtler in her approach, more interested in the whole governing part than the dog and pony show of campaigning.

If you look at Trump’s astrology, Uranus in Gemini dominates his birth chart. Uranus is the planet of chaos, impulsiveness and sudden upheaval—and this is exactly what his brand exemplifies. He’s “starting the revolution,” and that’s exactly the message he wants to send to his supporters.

Kamala’s astrology shows she’s starting a different kind of revolution—one defined by Saturn and its associated principles of conscientiousness, consistency and the rule of law. So, while Trump’s method of change is defined by Uranus (read: chaos), Kamala’s methodology is defined by Saturn (read: calm).

Either way, when two people with Gemini placements and Mars in Leo are forced to debate, it’s sure to be spicy—even if Trump’s signature “below the belt” rhetoric will never be able to rattle Kamala’s signature Libra cool.

Gemini Ascendant: The Art of Debate

In astrology, the Ascendant sign is the “mask” we wear, reflecting not so much our identity (Sun sign) or inner soul (Moon sign), but our public persona, or the qualities reflected by how the world sees us. The Ascendant represents the way we perform for others without realizing it.

In Kamala’s chart, her Gemini Ascendant is of particular significance because it aligns with both her Libra Sun and Saturn in Aquarius, forming a rare planetary formation known as a Grand Air Trine. The Grand Trine occurs when three planets or angles in the birth chart form a perfect triangle: Saturn in Aquarius, Libra Sun and Gemini Ascendant/North Node. People with this formation are born gifted intellectually and tend to be highly social creatures who love to talk and exchange ideas with others. In fact, it’s part of her life's purpose to cultivate the ability to effectively communicate her ideas to a public audience.

Another important dimension of her chart that bears consideration given the prominence of Air signs and her Gemini Ascendant is the position of her natal Mercury. Mercury rules the sign of Gemini (and is the planetary sub-ruler of her natal Sun in Libra Decan 3), so its sign and house determine the tone of her self-expression. In Kamala’s case, her Mercury falls in the sign of Scorpio, so she’s far more decisive and opinionated than she may appear on the surface. In contrast to the “airy” energy of Libra, Gemini and Aquarius, there’s nothing light about the sign of Scorpio.

Quick, perceptive and intense, those born with Mercury in Scorpio are sharp-tongued and critical, and their instinctive ability to spot others’ weaknesses make them formidable opponents. Libra and Scorpio are two of the most fascinating signs of the Zodiac when it comes to the concept of “truth”: unlike the Mutable signs, Libra and Scorpio are prone neither to lying nor changing their minds; yet both are intensely secretive, preferring to keep quiet rather than say something they might later regret. This is one of the reasons Libra and Scorpio make the best secret agents: they won’t lie, but they won’t volunteer information unnecessarily either.

With Gemini on her Ascendant, it’s no wonder that some find her to be versatile or chameleon-like: Libra is the compulsive people-pleaser and Gemini is the most changeable, mercurial sign of the Zodiac. As the sole Mutable Air sign, Gemini seems to change their mind every other day, and though they’re natural salespeople, Gemini Rising comes off as witty and clever yet indecisive or even flaky. But appearances can be deceiving, as her Libra Sun and Aries Moon aren’t here to play—they’re here to work.

Libra Sun v. Aries Moon: The Art of Compromise

Those born under the Sun sign of Libra are ruled by Venus, the principle of attraction; so Libra Sun wins friends not by influencing people but simply by showing up. Libra is the sign of Relationships (not just romantic ones, but relationships in all forms), and as such, think not in terms of “me,” but “we.”

Tactful, good-natured and encouraging, Libra thrives in group settings and connects easily with people not solely because of their likability but because of their strong commitment to fairness. Libra is obsessed with fairness—all about law and order, nothing is more likely to ruffle their poised yet friendly demeanor than injustice.

There’s a deep need to do good inherent in those born under the Sun sign of Libra, but to be truly successful they need to let go of the impulse to try to be all things to all people.

Despite having a natural social prowess, though, Libra is the one Air sign of the Zodiac who plays their cards close to the vest, known for their reserve when asked about their personal lives in the context of their work. This makes them excellent poker players, but in a world where social media is king, a lack of willingness to share the details of one’s private life publicly could be construed as much an asset as a deficit, depending on your view.

But the real chink in Libra’s armor is their compulsive need to be liked and, as a result, their “peace at any price” philosophy can make them lose sight of their agenda and too prone to compromise should they place too much emphasis on what others think. Not everyone’s going to like you: this is the lesson for those born with their Sun in Libra, and Kamala’s no exception.

Enter the power of her Aries Moon, who doesn’t give a fig what others think. The opposite sign of Libra, Aries is the high-energy, unapologetic go-getter of the Zodiac, and though they can be impulsive and hot-headed at times, no one knows how to “get shit done” better than Aries. Workaholics to the core, both Aries and Libra are Cardinal signs, meaning that neither sign is the stay-at-home type, driven by the need to succeed at all costs (though Libra just doesn’t show it like Aries does).

Yet while Aries is the Ram, head butting their way through any obstacle in their path, Libra is known as the “iron fist beneath the velvet glove,” just as willful as Aries but with the patience necessary to play the long game in pursuit of the win. In short? Never underestimate a Libra Sun, for beneath their diplomacy, charm and subtlety, they’re far more stubborn than their affable exterior lets on.

Saturn in Aquarius: The Art of Accountability

Saturn in Aquarius is the humanitarian of the Zodiac, and if Aquarius has one glaring flaw it’s that they tend to put the needs of others (even strangers) before their own, even to the point of self-destruction. The “test” for those born with Saturn in Aquarius is to learn responsibility, and though her Libra Sun gives her social adeptness, Saturn at the top of her chart (conjunct her Midheaven) means she has an obstacle to overcome when it comes to her career, social status and/or public image.

Exalted in the sign of Libra, the placement of Saturn in the chart of any Libra Sun takes on added significance, and Saturn is powerful in the sign of Aquarius and in the 9th house, giving her a potent mixture of pragmatism and idealism that has the potential to bring about real change by providing balance and stability.

Saturn trine her Sun balances Libra’s tendency toward indecisiveness and fear of confrontation, imbuing her with the integrity to stand up for what she believes in without compromising or overpromising in the process.

Similarly, Saturn’s sextile to her Moon tempers the otherwise impulsive, self-centered emotions of Aries, allowing common sense and emotions to work synergistically for a purpose bigger than personal power.

Careful and conscientious, building community is her life purpose, as Saturn represents the area of life where we’re meant to develop ourselves. Luckily for Kamala, her Aries Moon gives her the selfishness she needs to survive in the world of politics, while Saturn offers her the self-awareness to realize that it’s ultimately the way we treat others that dictates our self-worth. And Leo is all about self-worth.

Mars in Leo: The Art of Performance

Taken on its own, Mars in Leo implies drama, courage and a natural ability to perform. But in Kamala’s chart, her Mars in Leo forms tense angles to both Neptune in Scorpio and Jupiter in Taurus, creating what’s known in astrology as the T-square.

T-squares occur when one planet forms a 90° angle to two other planets simultaneously. This formation creates a high degree of motivation and drive, with the person’s energy directed in the area of the focal planet—in this case, Mars. In Kamala’s chart, her Mars in Leo squares Jupiter in Taurus, amplifying her ambition and desire to succeed. And with Neptune in Scorpio in the mix, her need to be recognized is intense.

Any tense combination of Mars, Jupiter and Neptune signals a lack of stability to the point of delusion when it comes to the person’s sense of self. Either way, there’s a distortion when it comes to self-image: the individual sees themselves through rose-colored glasses, making it challenging for others to relate to them when they’re so caught up in themselves.

In Kamala’s chart, however, soulful Saturn enters the picture to save the day, opposing her Mars in Leo and, in doing so, providing the reality check needed should she get too caught up in her own ego and drive for personal ambition (remember: Aries Moon).

Think of the opposition between Mars and Saturn like the game “Red Light/Green Light”: Mars says “go” (race to the finish line), while Saturn says “no” (crippled by fear and perceived obstacles). Leaning too heavily on either principle will inevitably lead to burnout/desperation (Mars/Fire) on the one hand or a self-defeating mindset on the other (Saturn/Earth).

Ultimately, it’s those who learn to successfully integrate these forces are the people who ultimately win the race. And Kamala’s chart is a good example of the contrasting principle of Mars versus Saturn and how these forces can work with (rather than against) one another. Because though Jupiter and Neptune inspire fantasies of glory and self-gratifying impulse behind the innate ambition of Mars in Leo, Saturn in Aquarius acts to remind her of the big picture of her quest for success. That is, not just to win for the sake of winning—something Mars in Leo can easily get caught up in—but to make a positive impact on those around her, her community and, if she’s lucky, the world.

Venus, Pluto & Uranus in Virgo: The Art of Work

Though blessed with the fire power of an Aries Moon and Mars in Leo, Kamala’s Venus is in earthy Virgo. Unlike Libra, Leo and Aries, Virgo can be more challenging to relate to on a personal level. In ancient astrology, Virgo (and the 6th house) was known as the sign of slavery, forced labor and servitude, so it’s no wonder that those born with planets in Virgo suffer from some level of a martyr complex—and Kamala is no exception. With Venus, Pluto and Uranus clustered together in Virgo in the 4th house of her chart, she’s most definitely a workaholic.

Venus rules the power of attraction, so the sign it’s in tells how we operate socially to attract what we need and want. Virgo isn’t naturally charismatic and doesn’t particularly enjoy purely social functions—this is why Venus is in the sign of its “fall” in Virgo: they have to work harder when it comes to winning friends and influencing people, simply because they’re far more comfortable doing the dishes or helping clean up after a party than they are in “working the room.”

This is how Kamala operates in the public sphere of politics. Though her Libra Sun and Jupiter in Taurus give her natural charm, her Aries Moon and Venus in Virgo can’t help but think “when is this party over already so I can get to the Real Work.” If you know what I mean.

But in the age of social media, the traditional definition of “work” has changed. A useful way to think about this change in what constitutes work is in the contrast between the signs of Virgo and Gemini: both ruled by Mercury, Virgo and Gemini are similar in many ways, but where they differ is in their definition of work.

“Get ‘er done” is Virgo’s motto, placing value on efficiency and practical know-how above all else, and are more likely to tip the Garbage Man than lend money to a trusted friend. Contrast this with Gemini, who’s more than happy to make promises to friends and monetize their lives in the form of social capital.

Not to say that one’s better than the other, but Gemini is more concerned with having a following than in, say, taking out the garbage. Virgo may resent this, but Gemini isn’t stupid: they’re simply born with the awareness that, as famous mogul Suze Orman once said, “your network is your net worth.”

As a Libra, Kamala is far more predisposed to the work of diplomatic strategy, reading briefs and doing the dirty work than workshopping her image, crafting a social media presence and doing the dirty work of campaigning. If anything, this is potentially the starkest difference between her and Trump—when it comes to their respective styles of work, the spotlight just isn’t what Kamala’s all about. And though she may not have the star power that The Donald has accumulated over decades of shoving his personal life in people’s faces, but Kamala is more comfortable taking out the garbage than she is in making public appearances for money.

What Kamala Needs to Win

When it comes to the debates, the thing that could get Kamala in trouble with her Mercury in Scorpio is her unconscious tendency toward sarcasm. The reason that people with planets in Scorpio (ahem, Hilary) don’t come off well when in (verbal) combat with certain Gemini folks (ahem, Trump) is that Scorpio’s penchant for relying on silence + dramatic, well-timed eye-rolling just, well, doesn’t work against them.

Why? Gemini is Mr. Willy Wonka, who lives in a mind palace all his own, and Trump fits this image to a tee, gleefully interrupting or talking over his opponent to bring up completely unrelated bits of information or gossip as if not hearing anything at all, leaving the other contestant looking overwhelmed at best and unwilling to engage at worst. This is a trap that Kamala can’t afford to let herself fall into in the upcoming presidential debate—though luckily for her she has her Saturn in Aquarius to guide her. And when it comes to intellect, Aquarius always trumps Gemini.

Yet even with her Grand Air trine giving her the verbal wit, mental agility to address the big picture regardless of whatever unrelated bits of gossip, tabloid fodder or random lies Gemini Trump hurls her way, to win in a debate situation she has to embrace her inner Performance Artist, lest she come off “too serious.”

The reason I say this is isn’t because it’s true, but because what she’s up against is an opponent for whom “professionalism” is a foreign concept. So, while maintaining one’s composure is important, she’s got to let loose on him a little bit more than she might otherwise. Because, unfortunately? Professionalism isn’t what this campaign is about.

With Trump, everything is a game of performance and trickery, making his audience think they’ve won the Golden Ticket when in fact they’ve won, well, nothing. So Kamala’s got to get comfortable in the role of Performer, not Professional, if she’s going to beat Trump in the debates.

That said, the best asset for Kamala is her Aries Moon. “Confidence” is the name of Aries’ game, and no sign hates to lose more than Aries. So surely she’ll have at least one ace up her sleeve—no matter what Willy Wonka throws her way.

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