1988 was a great time to be an astrologer.  Nancy Reagan’s use of astrology in the White House was suddenly revealed to the public, and it was big news.

Former chief of staff Don Regan’s memoir came out in early May, and the press leapt on the news.  It was no surprise to astrologers, who were aware that the Reagans had consulted Carroll Righter and other astrologers during their Hollywood years.  Don Regan didn’t know the identity of the San Francisco astrologer that the First Lady used, but the press soon found out:  Joan Quigley, who Nancy may have consulted as early as the early ‘70s.

Quigley was the daughter of a successful hotel owner, and she and her sister grew up in a penthouse and were featured in the society pages attending events and charitable functions.  We can see her inherited wealth and social standing in her Aries Sun in the 8^th house trine her Moon in Leo in the 11^th.  With a Virgo Ascendant, she was attractive and always perfectly dressed, seemingly without a hair out of place.  Joan graduated with an art history degree from Vassar College.  Her Ascendant closely trined Venus in Taurus, so she had good taste.

After college, Joan returned to San Francisco, where she started practicing astrology and continued volunteer work.  Her Venus in the 9^th showed her attraction to art studies, and since it also ruled her second house of income, her ability to earn through sharing her astrological knowledge.

She was choosy about her clients since she didn’t need the income.  Her Moon also trined Saturn in Sagittarius in her 3^rd house; while she published three books, the first, Astrology for Adults (1971) very much used Evangeline Adams’ 1930 book Astrology: Your Place Among the Stars as a direct source.

Quigley’s Mars and Pluto were in the 10^th house and her focus was on her career.  Mars squares both Mercury and Uranus in the 7^th, attesting to the short-term nature of consultations.  She never married, probably a good choice as she needed freedom in relationships.  The 7^th also shows her clientele and public outreach.  Jupiter in its own sign of Pisces, closely conjunct the 7^th house cusp, added to her independent spirit, as well as her ability to come before the public.  Quigley made regular appearances on the Merv Griffin show and he was probably a client.  Though with Pluto in Cancer in the 10^th and Saturn in the 3^rd, the astrologer was discreet and typically didn’t reveal anything about her clients.

Jupiter also shows that Quigley could serve some notable patrons.  She had volunteered for Ronald Reagan’s campaigns for California governor and then president.  After the assassination attempt on President Reagan on March 30, 1981, Nancy began to rely on Joan regularly.

Quigley was 54 years old at the time.  Her progressed Jupiter conjoined 7^th house Uranus, opening her to an unusual relationship.  Her progressed Midheaven conjoined her natal Moon in Leo in the 11^th, nicely describing her association with a regal kind of woman, and she was also experiencing a lunar return.  Joan’s Mercury had progressed to her 10^th house, and was a few degrees from conjoining her North Node and squaring natal Uranus.

Pluto transited her 2^nd house of finances and values at 23-1/2 Libra, equidistant from a trine to 10^th house Mars and opposition to her 8^th house Sun, showing a rewarding career opportunity.  Neptune through her 4^th house trined her natal Neptune in the 12^th, and she was hired as a consultant and counselor, but had to keep it secret.  The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in early Libra that had foreshadowed the assassination attempt on the president was transiting Quigley’s first house, so a long-term (Saturn) partner (natal Jupiter conjunct her 7^th) had come to her (first house).  Both exactly opposed natal 7^th house Uranus within a few months, bringing a new relationship.

Quigley’s Mercury in Pisces and Uranus in Aries in the 7^th house square Mars in Gemini in her 10^th shows the potential for sudden upheavals in relationships from time to time.  The pattern suited Joan’s consulting work with Nancy, especially as they did it remotely, by telephone (Uranus).

When the news broke in early May of 1988 about Joan Quigley’s influence on President Reagan’s schedule, transiting Saturn and Uranus were closely conjunct in Capricorn and squared her 7^th house Uranus, creating a break.  Of course, her seven-year stint represents a Saturn cycle, and the relationship had begun when Saturn conjoined Jupiter and both opposed her Uranus.  Transiting Pluto in Scorpio through her 3^rd house was less than a degree from squaring her Moon:  the relationship with the powerful First Lady had ended.  Quigley said that Nancy only spoke with her once after the public got the news.

Nancy Reagan couldn’t deny what had happened, but distanced herself from astrology, describing her use of it out of fear.  Joan Quigley felt compelled to speak out, and later write her own book, where she detailed her influence on the Reagan administration, including encouraging the president to work with Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev on arms control agreements and ending the Cold War.

Some astrologers felt that Quigley had betrayed a confidence.  Her leonine integrity and dignity had been questioned, and she wanted all to know what astrology could really do.  With five planets in fire signs and an angular Mercury and Jupiter, she shared her truth.

Quigley’s book on the Reagans has interesting facts, but her ego comes off a little strong.   What does Joan Say?  My Seven Years as White House Astrologer to Nancy and Ronald Reagan.