Namaste,

Interest in the upcoming US elections has been unprecedented. The US Independence chart recently began the major cycle of Rahu; when Rahu occupies the 8th house, its period will bring fear, phobias, and poor judgement; in a country's chart, the prevalent mood will be pessimistic. In such times voters are more likely to embrace a candidate that is advocating radical change.

In the race to the White House, Hillary Clinton will represent the Democrats, while Donald Trump is the Republican nominee; therefore we will consider these two charts.

Clinton has a very powerful chart, with Libra Ascendant, and Venus, ruler of Libra in the 1st house, giving rise to Malavya Yoga, one of the Mahapurusha Yogas (combinations for fame and influence). The combination of Mercury in the Ascendant with Venus is a potent Kendra/Trikona Yoga, as Mercury is the 9th lord (Dharma), and Venus is a Kendra lord; these yogas give her great authority, and fortune.

Clinton is in her Sun Mahadasha, which is debilitated in Libra; in fact her Sun is in the deepest debilitation, between 9 and 10 degrees of Libra. Within the Sun major period, she is presently in Sun-Rahu, up to and including the time of the election (Sun-Rahu period finishes March 9, 2017). Rahu is in the 8th house of Clinton's chart, and also in the inauspicious 8th from her Sun; Sun and Rahu are natural enemies, since Rahu is the eclipse of the Sun. Thus Sun-Rahu is the toughest part of Clinton's 6-year Sun period. On Nov 8, 2016, she will be in Sun-Rahu-Ketu period; Ketu is the other half of the eclipse, making this a doubly challenging period (Sun-Rahu-Ketu runs from Oct 23 to Nov 11). In the Bhava (house) Chart, Rahu slips to the 7th, and Ketu to the 1st (this is because Clinton's Ascendant is at 29 degrees Libra, and Ketu is at 0 degrees Scorpio; essentially conjunct the Ascendant, even though on the other side of the sign boundary). Whatever improvement this may provide, Sun slips into the 12th Bhava; either way, Rahu is still in the 8th house from her Sun. On election day Clinton has zero Bindus in Ashtakavarga, meaning not one of her planets is transiting a place of support.

Donald Trump has Leo rising, with Sun, ruler of Leo situated in the 10th house (best direction), conjunct with Rahu (Rahu in Taurus in the 10th house brings power). He was born on the Full Moon, with Moon in Scorpio, on the day of a Lunar Eclipse; energy is heightened during an eclipse. He is currently in the 18-year Rahu period, which began in November, 1998. Rahu and Ketu impact his 4th house (property) and 10th house (success); Trump has had tremendous growth in both these areas. Within Rahu period, the sub-periods of Saturn (6th lord from Leo), and Ketu would provide setbacks; in fact two of his most notable bankruptcies were in 2004 when he was in Rahu-Saturn, and 2009 when Rahu-Ketu was operating.

Since Oct, 2015 he is in Rahu-Mars; as Mars is Yogakaraka (most fortunate) planet for Leo, his rise to prominence is clearly seen in this period. The Republican Convention happened during his Rahu-Mars-Ketu period (June 30 to July 22), which was not without controversy; nothing could have stopped him from gaining the nomination to lead the party in the election. On election day, Trump will be in Rahu-Mars-Moon; although Moon is debilitated in his chart, there is cancellation of debilitation due to Mars being in the 1st house, in Leo. A few days later, on Nov 14, 2016, Trump enters his 16-year Jupiter major period, and will be in Jupiter-Jupiter-Jupiter on Jan 20 (Inauguration Day); Jupiter is the ruler of his 5th house (throne).

On Jan 20, 2017, Clinton will be in Sun-Rahu-Sun; although Sun also has cancellation of debilitation, the combination of Sun and Rahu cannot be good, particularly for Libra Ascendant.

On the whole, Trump's chart is a great deal stronger than Clinton's at the time of the election, which combined with the US chart being in Rahu-Rahu-Saturn (from July 24 to Dec 28), points to a surprise victory for Trump (at the time of this writing, 90% of the polls pick Clinton to win over Trump).

As a side note, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron was in the period Sun-Mars on June 23, 2016, the day of the Brexit vote; Sun is the ruler of the 12th house (loss) from his Virgo Ascendant, and Mars is located in his 12th house; had he consulted his Jyotish chart, he would not have chosen that date for the vote, as it was a period of double-loss; he could not have won. Clinton likewise is in a highly unlucky period at the time of the election, making room for Trump to triumph.

Unless the elections get cancelled for some reason, Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States.

(Published on July 25, 2016)