Aldrich Ames, the most damaging CIA traitor in agency history who reportedly caused the deaths of at least 10 recruited CIA or allied intelligence agents, by handing their names to the Soviets for money, has died after 30 years in prison. He said financial troubles were partly what led him to spy as well as his acquired knack of compartmentalising his thinking after being in the spy and counterspy business for 31 years, usually as a State Department official while working undercover as a CIA operative.
Born 26 May 1941 5.46am River Falls, Winconsin, with a CIA father, he had a stellium in Gemini (helps when splitting) of a New Moon, Venus in the hidden/behind-the-scenes 12th and Mercury on his Ascendant. Plus another stellium of Saturn, Uranus, Algol, Jupiter in money-minded Taurus. Five planets in his 12th would allow him to operate in the background. An ambitious 10th house Mars was inconjunct Pluto so he would have an uncurrent of resentment and anger.
What is on point astrologically, is his Neptune in Virgo being exactly conjunct the CIA’s Sun – a slippery, evasive and uncommitted cross over. CIA 18 September 1947. His Uranus was conjunct the CIA Taurus North Node as his betrayal hit at the heart of the CIA’s mission; and his Mercury was conjunct the CIA Uranus as his communications to the other side rocked the agency. Though the CIA were hardly doing due diligence since he had a long-term drinking problem and his obvious expenditure on houses etc far out weighed his income.
What is intriguing from a psychological point of view is that his relationship chart with the CIA has a composite Mars square Pluto and his with the USA has a Mars opposition Pluto. Arguably this could point to a relationship involving danger but it also suggests resentment and deep dislike.
His arrest in 1994 coincided with tr Saturn moving across his 10th, often thought of as successful but in his and Richard Nixon’s case, was a time when chickens came home to roost and he had to accept responsibility for past actions. His chart has a Uranus Jupiter conjunction often seen as lucky but tr Pluto opposing it as he was tried and convicted. Pluto Jupiter can signify conflict with authorities for breaching regulations and norms.
A 1998 movie about him aired on the Showtime cable network: “Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within” with Timothy Hutton in the lead.
The other notable betrayer, Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services from 1979 to 2001, described as “possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history” died two years ago in prison. He was born 18 April 1944 11.31 am Evergreen Park, Illinois. Like Ames he had a Neptunian crossover with his FBI employer. FBI 22 March 1935. Hanssen’s Neptune was opposition the FBI early degree Aries Sun and Hanssen’s late degree Aries Sun was conjunct the FBI Uranus.
He was the son of a Chicago police officer, a converted Catholic active in Opus Dei and a sexual deviant who videotaped himself having sex with his wife, allowing neighbours to watch. He was sentenced to 15 consecutive life sentences without parole in 2001.
His relationship chart with the USA has a significant composite Mars Pluto Moon tie up so not dissimilar to Ames. Hanssen’s relationship with the FBI has Pluto conjunct the composite North Node which is conjunct Mars.
Neither were exactly enamoured of their country of birth.
Apart from the spot on Neptunian and Uranian crossovers with the employers they betrayed what is also helpful from an astrological viewpoint – since both their birth times are available – is to see what was going on when they were arrested. Often when making (or trying to make) predictions there will be transits and aspects which seem to suggest good news is possible even when the worst happens.
When Ames was brought to justice tr Jupiter was trine his SA Neptune – this can boost optimism but is also associated with scandals which collapse reputations. Tr Pluto was opposition his Uranus Jupiter which might arguably have produced a lucky break but did the opposite as a conflict with authorities sent him to prison. Tr Saturn across his 10th – reaping the harvest of past labours. Tr Uranus Neptune opposition his Solar Arc Sun and Moon then and in the aftermath; as well as tr Uranus square his SA Midheaven were more clearly negative. And the real slamdunk was tr Pluto approaching the devastating conjunction to bis Neptune,
When Hanssen was arrested in February 2001, he had tr Jupiter trine his Neptune and tr Pluto trine his Jupiter – both of which could be read as positive; and were not dissimilar to Ames. Hanssen’s Solar Arc Moon was conjunct his Sun for a coming together of his destiny; and his SA Jupiter was opposition his Venus and square his Mars – neither of which seem calamitous. But what swamped any benefits these might have had – was the devastating and confused tr Neptune opposition his Pluto and SA Pluto conjunct his Neptune; as well as a downbeat SA Saturn conjunct his Jupiter.
Prediction is never simple and clinging onto the good news aspects – or indeed exaggerating the negative ones – is all too easy to do but not helpful.
When looking at a chart and something is “devastating” what does that signify vs when something is “confused”. Further if you have a “lucky” aspect as well as a “devastating” one will the devastating always trump the lucky? If you had a scale of devastating is a 0 and Lucky(if that’s the best moniker for a good aspect) is a 10 would confusing lie in the middle? Or would it look more like a “devastating” plus a “confusing” add up to trumping a “lucky”? Thanks for clarifying.
I always associate Pluto Neptune with earthquakes so it is that sense of ground-collapsing devastation and confusion. Rather than a dithery, indecisive Neptune on its own kind of confusion.
My impression is that the strongly negative will trump the positive. But they can run side by side. I remember years ago a colleague in TV was handed a huge job which showed up as both lucky and very panicky on his chart.
Hindsight is also always easier than predicting in advance since you never quite know how they will turn out.
“I always associate Pluto Neptune with earthquakes so it is that sense of ground-collapsing devastation and confusion.”
Interesting. I was born during the late 1976 Saturn in Leo/Pluto in Libra/Neptune in Sadgittarius sextile series. While one of the deathliest earthquakes recorded in Hebei Province, China, Feburuary 5th didn’t have Saturn involved, Neptune/Pluto was relatively tight. Also, there was a devastating earthquake in Friuli, Italy, I used to hear about from people 400 km away, scary, because it was only 6 km underground. May 6th didn’t have a close sextile, but there were aftershocks in September. My Ex was a baby, and his big sister, who was 14 at the time, would run down 6 fleet carrying him.
So, there is a belief of time period of planets of natal chart. For example, north node is 42years. It’s considered bad in chart but after age of 42,its effect is said to not be devastating. Saturn is 29yrs and so it’s advised that marriage for those with saturn in 1h,asc or 7h should be after 31yrs as chances of marriage lasting, comes into effect.
Anyhow, bottom line is “signs r always there” so if things r repeatedly going wrong then it’s going to be devastating if continued on same path and this holds true for uranus too which is shocking one or north node in which case,it’s opposite as in “too good to be true’.